Posh and Bucks

SHE appeared in a dark hat and sunglasses and bowed her head to the photographers' flashes. But as Victoria Beckham arrived in Los Angeles yesterday with the conspicuous inconspicuousness of a movie star feigning a low profile, it was as clear as a name in lights: half of Britain's biggest celebrity couple had found her new home.

Posh was in California house-hunting and looking at schools for her children three days after her husband clinched a 128 million five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy team in Major League Soccer (MLS) - the most lucrative contract in the history of the sport.

And while David Beckham is not due to begin playing with the American side until August, there was speculation that the couple might move to LA sooner than planned.

The coach of Beckham's current team said the former England captain will no longer play with Real Madrid, just practise, now that his intentions are clear.

At LA International Airport, paparazzi pushed and shoved with Posh's security guards as she raced through the terminal to a black 4x4.

A spokesman for the Beckhams said Posh planned to visit Los Angeles for a number of days looking at properties and visiting potential schools for her children, Brooklyn, seven, Romeo, four, and Cruz, one.

The spokesman declined to discuss in which neighbourhoods Posh was house hunting, but it is thought that she is looking to live near friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Beverly Hills.

An American newspaper has reported that the Beckhams have also met with representatives from the Church of Scientology, of which Cruise is a vocal member.

Posh will soon appear in a movie directed by Cruise and there is speculation that her husband also wishes to branch into the entertainment industry.

Beckham's aspirations for Hollywood stardom received a boost yesterday, bizarrely, when he was voted the star most people would like to host the Oscars.

The survey of 1,326 adults was carried out by Turner Classic Movies to launch its Award Winners season. Sean Connery was placed second.

The Beckhams may be in LA in time for the Oscars next month after Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello said at a news conference on Saturday that Beckham will not play again for the Spanish team. His contract with Real Madrid expires in June. "He will practise, but he is not going to play," Capello said.

Beckham spokesman Simon Oliveira said: "David is surprised at the quotes from Fabio Capello, as nobody from the club has informed him of their intentions.

"As far as David is aware, he has a contract for the remainder of the season and he remains dedicated to the club and its supporters."

Beckham's move to the American league has already had an impact - LA Galaxy sold 2,000 new season tickets in the 24 hours after the player's signing.

But yesterday commentators said the big test will be whether Beckham will win over the league's Latino fan base, comprised primarily of immigrants to America from Mexico and El Salvador.

Former Galaxy midfielder and Salvadoran international Mauricio Cienfuegos said Beckham may not be warmly received.

"I think the people from Mexico to Argentina are faithful to their own players," Cienfuegos said. "I don't think they will come to watch David Beckham."

Britain gives US the Beckhams ... we get Stallone in return

AS DAVID Beckham prepares to move to Los Angeles, the Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, left, took a trip to the less glamorous surroundings of Liverpool.

The Rocky actor made a guest appearance at Goodison Park yesterday as a favour to Robert Earl, his long-term friend and Everton's new backer.

The actor, who reprises his 1980s underdog boxer role in Rocky Balboa, was given a hero's welcome from 30,000 fans as he strode onto the pitch.

And Stallone, 60, who played a goalkeeper in the film Escape to Victory set in the Second World War, predicted Beckham could be bigger in the United States than a previous star import, the legendary Pele.

He said: "I think it will be fantastic when David Beckham goes to the States.

"History may not repeat itself. Maybe in the Seventies, with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer, it was too soon for the sport to take off. This could be great for everybody. Beckham could be a big hit in the States."