David Beckham has returned to Manchester, telling reporters he is 'happy' to be back.

The former Manchester United star was given a hero's welcome from around 80 screaming fans as he landed at Manchester Airport.

The England international faced a media frenzy as a scrum of photographers battled to get the first pictures of him returning to the city he once called home.

The 34-year-old, who now plays for Italian giants AC Milan faces his former club for the first time tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 10) since leaving Old Trafford seven years ago.

The teams meet in the second leg of the last 16 in the Champions League with United holding a slender one-goal advantage.

Beckham sidestepped the majority of the waiting press pack but stopped to sign autographs for his adoring fans and had a quick word with the M.E.N.

He told the M.E.N.   he was 'very happy and excited' to be back in Manchester but remained coy on his score prediction.

He diplomatically said: “We'll have to wait and see.”

The ex-Reds favourite is famed for his love of fashion and was regularly snapped laden with bags from top city centre boutiques when he played for United. But he shrugged off suggestions he was set to return to his former retail haunts during his flying visit and admitted he had no shopping sprees planned.

David was flanked by many of his team-mates as they arrived at Terminal Two this afternoon.

The first to walk through the terminal was AC Milan manager Leonardo and he was quickly followed by the likes of the world-famous Brazilian Ronaldinho, ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini and rising star Alexandre Pato.

The players were escorted by police and airport staff as they were put on to a coach, believed to be heading for a city centre hotel.

Manchester United supporter Lee Smith, 38, from Swinton, was one of the lucky fans who managed to get Beckham's autograph.

The train driver, who is based at Manchester Piccadilly, told the M.E.N. how he had taken the day off work to meet him and said he was 'over the moon' to get his signature.

He said: “I got him to sign my book – I've got over 200 autographs in it but I was missing Beckham's. He doesn't come to these shores very often so it was too good an opportunity to miss. “I think he's going to get a great reception at Old Trafford – he's up there with the all time greats but fingers crossed United get the win.”