David Beckham announced last Thursday he would join the Galaxy in a five year deal. It has been reported to be worth US$250 million, which will begin in August. Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello responded two days later by saying Beckham would no longer play for the team since he has committed to another club, but would be able to train with his teammates.
That has left Beckham with the prospect of no competition for six months. David Beckham’s lawyers hope to arrange for the footballer to join the L.A. Galaxy by the early spring since he will not participate in the Champions League. Early departure seems to be the best solution for Beckham, although to leave early he would have to forfeit a cut of his income to Real. Since tickets sales have incremented he might be tempted to go.
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Beckham stated he wishes to finish out the 5½ months left with Real but Spanish media has suggested that Madrid may try to rescind his contract, although Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas said the club would wait until August.
To worsen matters, Real Madrid team President Ramon Calderon has now openly aggravated the relationship by commenting that David Beckham picked Galaxy due to a lack of offers from real European clubs. David Beckham was blatantly disrespected by Calderon Tuesday, when he accused the player of being a Hollywood wannabe spurned by most of the world's top soccer teams.
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"The proof that our technical staff was correct not to retain him has been borne out by every other technical staff in the world not wanting him even though he was out of contract," Calderon said in a speech to university students. This speech was broadcast by Cadena COPE radio station. He also added: "David Beckham is going to be some sort of film actor living in Hollywood."
No comments were made by Beckham or his spokesman Simon Oliveira who discarded any response. During his university visit, Calderon also criticized Madrid's players, who he said displayed "egotism and vanity." "They all think they are superstars," he added.
Calderon later released a statement apologizing for his remarks.
"The first thing is to say I'm sorry, a thousand times sorry, to everyone to whom I have offended. Everything I have done at this club since I arrived at Real Madrid has been for the good of the club and my affection and my defense of the players will always be above anything else," he said on the team's Web site. www.RealMadrid.com
"During the questions, it is true, I made a series of remarks which could have caused annoyance," he added. Madrid criticized Cadena COPE for making Calderon's comments public, in a statement on its Web site earlier Tuesday.
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"Real Madrid wishes to express its surprise and indignation because a journalist from La COPE … has violated the intimacy of a private function which attempted to be academic in its content and nature, and has turned it into an act of disloyalty and disrespect toward the university, the students present and the good faith of the president," was the team’s official statement.
With no competition and nothing to lose David Beckham might just be in LA to welcome the spring in preparation for hopefully his greatest summer season.
