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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Romeo Beckham's U-turn saw David bulldoze £30k tennis court as Andy Murray lessons wasted

In the Channel 4 show The IT Crowd, businessman Denholm Reynholm lays bare his business history with a line of brutal honesty.

"When I first started Reynholm Industries," he says, "I had only two things in my possession: A dream... and six million pounds."

As with the sitcom character, and the majority of young adults lauded in right-wing newspapers for being able to buy a home in their early twenties, money can be a great help. And, on the subject of people on the right wing who have a lot of money, David Beckham's son Romeo scored what could be a career-defining goal over the weekend.

It's often the case that the sons of famous footballers can develop into great players themselves. Just look at Erling Haaland, or Kasper Schmeichel, or Thiago Alcantara.

When that happens, though, they often follow a familiar path. An obsession with - and immersion in - football as a kid, with that fondness never disappearing during their path to the top.

It's been different with Romeo Beckham, though. Yes, he was in the academy of a top team as a youngster, but things changed somewhat after that.

How far will Romeo Beckham make it in football? Have your say in the comments section

(AFP via Getty Images)

It was 2014 when Romeo, along with brothers Brooklyn and Cruz, joined Arsenal's ranks. Not a bad start, we think you'll agree.

Other players in his age-group or younger who were involved with the Gunners at that time include Miguel Azeez and Omari Hutchinson, two youngsters who have featured in matchday squads. Bukayo Saka was one year older, and is now one of the Gunners' most important players. Romeo Beckham, as we know, is playing for Inter Miami II, the second-string of the team owned by his dad.

You're probably going to tell us it 'doesn't count' when it's Inter Miami II. To which we say why, should his dad literally owning the team be something we can't just look past for a second? Honestly, some people.

David Beckham was interviewed in the Radio Times Christmas issue in 2015 - the year Romeo walked away from football - and explained his mixed emotions. "The other day Romeo turned round to me and said he didn’t want to play football any more," the former England international said.

"Part of me was devastated but part of me was relieved, too. He’s got other passions and I like that.”

One of those passions was tennis, a sport where children of privilege are nowhere to be seen. *Taps earpiece* hang on, no, wait, the opposite of that. Now, let's be clear here, Romeo Beckham didn't choose to be born into wealth and privilege. He might not even have chosen to join Arsenal's academy. One thing that is clear, though, is that his path to the top ( is 'top' the right word? - ed.) is hardly the most conventional.

One of those other passions mentioned by his father was tennis, and he began by training with the likes of Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki and Grigor Dimitrov. You know, just like any normal budding tennis pro would do.

He also had a tennis court costing around £30,000 built for him at the family home, and whom amongst us hasn't had that luxury? Don't answer that.

Beckham has been making his way in the game with Inter Miami II (Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Eventually, though, said court was knocked down, with a five-a-side football pitch taking its place. In fairness, it's really hard to plan ahead and book a pitch when you don't know if your brother will be out photographing elephants or if your tennis buddies will be out playing grand slam finals, so why not just wait for the game to come to you.

Here, though, is where we do have to give young Romeo plenty of credit. It's pretty hard to practice free-kicks on a five-a-side pitch, so there must be a bit of innate quality involved on that front.

Anyway, it's just a sign that you can make it too. Just as long as you have a dream and six million pounds. In fact, we're not sure the first part's even that important.

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