England's superstar captain David Beckham was greeted by some 2,500 screaming fans as he arrived at a stadium here to play football with former Malaysian national players.

There was no fanfare at the airport as Beckham's arrival from Bangkok was kept hushed by the organisers but he was escorted in style to the stadium in the nearby city centre by a convoy of four cars and several outriders.

Sporting pony-tailed hair and wearing a red casual tee-shirt and white baggy pants, he was received by Malaysian fans decked out in Manchester United kits, who yelled out his name and clutched posters of their idol.

Beckham changed into grey shorts and tee-shirt before being ushered into the stadium accompanied by the fanfare of a traditional Chinese lion dance.

God of football

The former Manchester United star, who will play for Real Madrid in the new season, is scheduled to play a game of five-a-side soccer with former Malaysian national footballers as part of a promotional campaign.

He will later present the prize to the winner of a five-a-side tournament in which local teams are playing.

"I'm a diehard Beckham fan. He is a trend-setter. I have imitated all his hairstyles," said Raja Baney, a 20-year-old college student, who has had his hair braided into cornrows.

He told AFP that he also had his hair done up in Beckham's previous Mohican style.

"He is a world of his own. I'm a Beckham fan, not a Manchester United fan," he added.

Another devoted follower, 19-year-old student Ashwin Singh, lamented Beckham's departure from Manchester United.

"Beckham is the god of football. I feel sad that he's leaving Manchester United," he said, but he urged Beckham to "do his best with Real Madrid and prove Ferguson wrong."

Mrs Beckham not here

Football's glamour boy and his popstar wife Victoria are on a week-long Asian tour, which will earn the couple an estimated one million pound, according to British media reports.

Victoria did not accompany Beckham to Malaysia and organisers said she is still in Bangkok.

The tour has been given extra attention after Beckham's transfer to the Spanish club in a deal worth up to 35 million euros was agreed last week. - AFP