David Beckham is to retire from football at the end of the season. The 38 year has decided to call it a day after a glittering career for club and country. He recently signed a five month contract with Paris St Germain and won the French title with them. He also won league titles in Spain and America and of course he won 6 Premier League titles with Manchster United and two Champions League. He also Captained England and won 115 caps.

A career spanning over two decades Beckham was a superb ambassador for the sport and he will be missed.

And so the murky world of football continues to live up to its name. Almost a year to the day when he won City’s first league title in 44 years Roberto Mancini was shown the door. Manual Pelligrini of Malaga who has denied that he will be the new boss is expected to be installed within hours. It’s hard to believe any statement from anyone in this sport.

City thanked Mancini for all his work but said he failed to “achieve any of the clubs targets except for qualification for the Champions League next season”.

QPR and Reading are gone and now it’s down to Wigan, Aston Villa and Sunderland for the final spot. Results over the weekend saved the likes of Newcastle, Norwich, Fulham and Southampton but Sunderland are still in the mix after that draw with the Saints. Wigan are still the tip to go down. Away to Arsenal who are still battling for Champions League football is a tall order. Their final game at home to Villa could still be crucial but they must get something at the Emirates.

Seven nil on aggregate was the worst European defeat ever for Barcelona. Bayern Munich won with ease 3-0 in the second leg to complete a rout over a team who have been the best club side in the world until the last two months or so. It’s their third final in four years and they will hope to erase the memories of defeats to the likes of Inter and to Chelsea last season. The two sides are in the final and deservedly so.

For Real Madrid and Barcelona it’s back to drawing board and a real reality check for Spanish football.