DAVID BECKHAM can revolutionise football in America - because thousands will flock to see the world's most famous soccer star.

That was the claim today from LA Galaxy general manager Alexei Lalas, who tipped Becks to become the USA's next big sporting icon.

The 31-year-old former England skipper stunned the football world yesterday by quitting Real Madrid for the MLS in the summer.

The deal will earn Beckham a mind-boggling £128m over five years with the Galaxy - the equivalent of £70,000 A DAY.

And it will make him America's highest-ever paid sportsman, eclipsing even the likes of Basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

But Lalas today forecast Beckham would be worth every penny.

He said: "He appeals to so many different people. There is going to be a curiosity factor.

"There are going to be many people who are going to come to their first MLS and first Galaxy game just to watch David Beckham. He is going to make our team better. We like to think he is coming to the premier club in MLS soccer. First and foremost, he is a good soccer player."

The scale of the transfer is immense and Galaxy are not surprisingly excited about the capture of football's most famous player.

But the move would not have been possible before last November, when the previous salary cap of £976,000 per team was made more flexible to allow for designated players' - or, in other words, highly-paid superstars.

Team coach Frank Yallop, the former Ipswich defender, was also thrilled. He said: "He's a fantastic footballer. He has proved himself over the years and it will be wonderful to have him.

"And to be able to manage and coach him will be a dream come true for me."

Yallop, 42, believes Beckham will be well suited to the style of play in the US and gave an early indication of the role he is likely to play.

"He will fit in quite nicely," he continued. "I see him playing centrally in our league. We have to get him on the ball as much as we can, making us tick."

One of Beckham's new team-mates, former Coventry forward Cobi Jones, believes he and wife Victoria can expect a very different lifestyle when they arrive on the west coast. He said: "I think it is going to be interesting for him.

"He is definitely going to have a different style of life over here.

"The attention that he is going to get from the media in the Hollywood area is going to be a bit interesting. Everyone will come out of the woodwork, not just to see the team but him.

"He is in the superstar and Hollywood set already - but since this announcement, I have been bombarded by messages from friends about him coming."

And MLS commissioner Don Garber believes Beckham's arrival will have a huge impact.

He said: "David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America.

"David's enormous success as a player and team leader will serve as an inspiration to millions of soccer players and fans in this country.

"And his global popularity will help take MLS and the sport of soccer in this country to an unprecedented level of excitement and popularity here and abroad." HE SAID . . .

"This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract by a further two seasons.

"After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.

"I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make.

"I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans.

"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.

"For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100% to my coach, team-mates and fans as I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve."