TAKE TWO OF THE WORLDS BIGGEST CLUBS

Last updated : 28 March 2003 By Editor
Media meltdown over the Beckham to Real Madrid story.

The Spanish media have gone ballistic with Newspaper AS
dedicating their front page, and the following four, to
Beckham. They have a photo make up of how David would look
in a Madrid shirt, an article on the shopping in Madrid
suiting Posh and a diagram to show how Figo and Becks could
fit into the same team.

There is also a full page on how Beckham features in the
United museum and the positive effect his signing could have
on Madrid’s merchandising effort in the Asian market.
There follows an interview with Figo where the Portuguese
winger had to tell the interviewer to stop asking him about
Beckham.

Meanwhile, Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano is unsure about
where Beckham would fit in:

"Madrid have some excellent players. "Let's see who's going
to be the one to bring him here. Maybe we could use 12 or 13
players."

However coach, Vicente del Bosque, said:

"If the club think it convenient for us to have a certain
player, then it is because they think he will be able to
help us - we won't sign him if he is going to present us
with a problem."

The Times have also run a piece concerning the proposed
move, and the problems that both Real and Beckham would face
should they attempt it:

‘Jorge Valdano, the Real Madrid director of sport, has been
doing some theorising on the destiny of a certain footballer
who is rarely off the minds of English fans.

If the Spanish press is to be believed, and that is a moot
point, Real Madrid are eyeing David Beckham as the next big
signing to supply a meaty forward line that includes
Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.

“The way Real Madrid have pulled off the biggest transfer
market coups of the last few seasons, Beckham looks like the
next big project for us,” Valdano said,

This would be consistent with a policy introduced by
Florentino Pérez, the Real president, to add one of the
world’s best players to the team each season.

The trouble with the compelling thought of Beckham at Real
is that there are a number of good reasons why he would not
make the move. For a start, Pérez himself, the real boss,
despite Valdano’s profile, is rubbishing the idea. “No one
is thinking about signing Beckham at the moment,” he told
Marca, Spain’s sports paper. The local construction baron is
also adamant that Figo would never leave in an exchange deal
but would see out his contract until 2006.

Another good reason is that Beckham is just a year into a
lucrative contract tying him to Old Trafford until 2005.
Besides being a good player, he gives United worldwide pop
appeal, selling more replica shirts than any of his team-
mates and attracting fans in new markets. United has a
strong hold over its star player and, with the world’s
richest club expected to report record turnover next week,
why would it want to sell him? A replacement Beckham would
cost just as much.

If Beckham wanted to uproot to a foreign country, though, he
would face obstacles. Beckham, 27, who signed for United as
a trainee in July 1991, would find himself accused of a
breach of contract under new Fifa transfer rules if he
walked out without the club’s blessing.

Players who sign contracts before they turn 28 are subject
to harsh penalties. In the first two years, that means a
four-month worldwide playing ban. The player and poaching
club can also be fined.’

And Valdano has further denied any interest, speaking to
Real Madrid TV he said:

“In respect to the much commented question about David
Beckham, the possibility that Beckham will one day play for
Real Madrid is very remote,

“The possibility that Figo will leave Madrid is not remote -
it is impossible.”

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