Becks cuts £40m razor deal

Sex sells - just ask David Beckham. After his Spanish lover, Rebecca Loos, made nearly £1million dishing the dirt on their alleged affair, the football hero is celebrating a lucrative deal of his own.

He has reportedly clinched a £ 40million contract to promote Gillette razors, a move which is guaranteed to make him a household name in the US.

Beckham's manager, Simon Fuller, has been in talks with the shaving giant on how to launch the 28-year-old England captain in America after this summer's European Championships.

An industry insider said: 'Gillette is one of the biggest brands in America. David's affairs have not affected him in any way. In fact the Beckham brand, especially David, is getting bigger and bigger. Despite the reason behind it, David's name was all over the media which has kept him in the public eye.'

Advertising expert Trevor Beattie, who created Wonderbra's Hello Boys! campaign, said: 'Before, he was a perfect role model - great dad, good bloke, brilliant footballer and husband. Now we have seen he is human, too, and can be flawed.'

The Gillette contract could put Beckham on a par with golf star Tiger Woods, basketball's Michael Jordan and boxing legend Muhammed Ali.

Adidas spokesman Thomas van Schalk said: 'Even Muhammed Ali cannot compete with the England captain's status now.

'Ali was under contract with us but cannot come close to Becks.'