Beckham's fourth world cup appearance now doubtful

Airport news for Flights,Travel on 15/03/2010.

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AC Milan football player David Beckham left Principe di Savoia Hotel in crutches and headed to Linate Airport on Monday to catch a flight to Finland for a surgery on his left Achilles' tendon. The former Manchester United team leader was injured in the final minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 victory over AC Chievo Verona on Sunday.

With the incident, Beckham’s dream of becoming the first Brit player to participate in four World Cups is now likely impossible. Beckham will be diagnosed by specialist surgeon Sakari Orava.

Sky TV reported that the football star exited the hotel in crutches with his father. Wearing a white shirt, jeans and a hat, he got into the car’s front seat with difficulty. Beckham's belongings were loaded into a different vehicle. The news agency moreover confirmed that Beckham departed the air terminal at about noon Monday.

It was however unclear where the player is going after the surgery. Beckham did not react to the question and he avoided making eye contact with the assembled press.

On Sunday, a person familiar with Beckham’s injury informed The Associated Press that the 34-year-old football player will surely miss the World Cup. The person however confirmed that the midfielder will be back in the fields. Meanwhile, Dr Orava told Finnish newscaster YLE that it is unrealistic for Beckham to recover in a matter of three months. But the doctor added that such astounding recoveries had happened before.

Beckham is considered by many as the world’s most-known football player. A 2002 film ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ was even titled after him.

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