When it comes to his commitment to Major League Soccer, David Beckham is a little like the distracted guest we've all met at parties. They're happy to sit and talk, but they're always looking around in case someone more interesting comes along.
It's with that split attention that the 34-year-old midfielder begins his third season in America: publicly committed to his five-year deal with the LA Galaxy but privately looking for an escape route.
Arriving mid-campaign from his loan spell with AC Milan, it's easy to see why Beckham is copping abuse from the fans. But, infuriatingly, the world's richest footballer - a self-acclaimed ambassador who originally signed a contract worth a reported US$6.5 million a season - is acting as if he is the victim.
With an eye on next year's World Cup, Beckham has cited his desire to keep playing for Fabio Capello's England as the motivation behind his long spell at AC Milan that saw him miss a chunk of the 2009 MLS season.
But, according to biographer Grant Wahl - author of The Beckham Experiment, the ex-Manchester United favourite has long mentally checked-out.
'Citing patriotism and making Capello 'the bad guy' - to Galaxy fans, at least - obscures the fact that Beckham desperately wanted out of his five-year commitment to the Galaxy and MLS,' Wahl said.