HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVE

Last updated : 13 July 2003 By Editor

From The Independent on Sunday:

If David Beckham misses his Manchester United and England teammates while he's in Madrid, he can always catch up with them when he goes to his new luxury holiday home in Dubai.

It was announced yesterday that Beckham, Michael Owen and nine other members of the England squad have bought £1m five-bedroomed villas on an artificial resort island being built off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Beckham's former team mates Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have all bought homes on The Palm complex, as have Owen and other England regulars Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer. The Dubai 11 will even have a goalkeeper - David James.