David Beckham nearly returned to England in 2004. According to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, he tried to sign the England international after his first season at Real Madrid but Becks decided to stick it out in Spain.
Le Boss addressed the near move to the Daily Express:
David almost came to Arsenal a couple of years ago when things did not go too well during his first season with Real. I even met the people who took care of his career, but in the end, David decided to remain at Real.
Beckham is now training at Arsenal while he works to keep his place at England and he’s years past when AW wanted him. But it is interesting to think that Golden Balls could have been a Gooner.