WEIRDO

From the Sun:

Shaven-headed Manchester United star Juan Sebastian Veron escapes the pressures of the Premiership - by settling down with the Teletubbies.

Veron, 27, said: "Criticism does not bother me. I don't read newspapers or watch sports programmes on TV. Lately I've been busy watching Teletubbies."

·VERON is not the only sporting fan of the Teletubbies. Croatian tennis ace Goran Ivanisevic, 31, won Wimbledon last year - then claimed handbag- carrying Tinky Winky was his hero.

Also in the Sun:

David Beckham has championed sarongs, nail varnish and Alice bands for fellas - now he has won a six-figure deal to plug make-up. Becks and wife Victoria have been signed up by giant Japanese cosmetics firm TBC - Tokyo Beauty Center - and are about to start shooting poster ads at locations in Britain.

The Manchester United and England skipper will feature in a series of promos and will be seen wearing the slap against a background of an English stately home.

TBC are one of the largest cosmetics firms in the Far East and have a popular range of products for men.

Items being snapped up by fashion conscious Japanese fellas include skin lotions, anti-ageing creams, facial cleansers and eyebrow shaping kits.

But fans in Britain will not get a chance to see Posh and Becks modelling the make-up. The billboard ads will appear only in the Far East.

The pictures are being shot by Dean Freeman, who took all the pictures for the United star's 2000 biography, Beckham: My World.

An insider at TBC said: "It's a huge deal and one the firm insisted the couple sign together.

"Believe it or not, David is probably a bigger star in Japan than he is in England.

"Victoria's music is very popular too. The Spice Girls were massive here.

"They are a couple every Japanese citizen recognises immediately - especially after the last World Cup.

"The adverts are being shot in England at a stately home and will try to retain the Britishness of David and Victoria while promoting the product.

"Exact figures on how much they signed for are being kept top secret but it is in six figures."

International weeks eh, who needs 'em?