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Former Arsenal, Blackburn and Tottenham man David Bentley retires from football
FORMER England winger David Bentley has retired from football aged 29, claiming the game has become 'robotic and boring'.
Bentley, who was once dubbed 'next David Beckham' due to his ability to cross the ball, started his professional career at Arsenal, moving to Blackburn in 2006 for £1.5m.
I've fallen out of love with the game
Tottenham signed him for £15m two years later, but struggled to establish himself at White Hart Lane, being sent out on loan to Birmingham, West Ham, FC Rostov and Blackburn before releasing him last year.
Bentley, who was capped seven times for England, said: "I've fallen out of love with the game.
"The game has changed a lot - when I first started playing it was more about enjoying it, you went into work every day and it was brilliant.
"Now it's a little bit robotic - with the social media side of it and the money that has come into the game - I hate to say it but it's made it boring, it's made it predictable and a bit too calculated.
"To sign on for another four or five years into that isn't really an option for me."