David Beckham's farewell

"It's been an honour to don the White shirt. Winning La Liga would be a dream come true."

Yesterday it was Roberto Carlos who made his last appearance at Real Madrid City's press room before the media. Today, it was time for more goodbyes. David Beckham's press conference congregated masses of journalists, photographers, and TV cameras to capture the shots of the Englishman on the day of his farewell. Real Madrid's number '23' will be leaving at the end of the season and his biggest wish, as he underlined a few times, was to win the Primera Liga. Elegant, serene, and smiling throughout, an exemplary footballer and quite the gentleman, he spoke largely of the sadness of leaving and reiterated the words “thank you”.

Is there any chance you might reconsider your decision and stay at or come back to Real Madrid in the near future?

No. The contract was signed a few months back. Everyone knows when I signed it. My last game will be on Sunday. There’s no clause in the contract that I signed with the Galaxy saying that it could be changed, so as far as everyone knows now, the last game is Sunday. I played for Real Madrid for four years. I’ve had an incredible, incredible time, and hopefully it’s going to end with the best ending possible: La Liga. This is it.

When did you begin considering that you had to leave Real Madrid?

I first realised I would be leaving Real Madrid six months ago in January when I was told that my contract wouldn’t be renewed. That was the time that I knew I had to decide my future, but leaving a club like Real Madrid is very difficult. I think that my future is very bright and I’m really looking forward to it now. But I will miss Real Madrid and Spain a huge, huge amount.

Do you feel like you could have stayed two more years at Real Madrid?

There's no doubt I could have stayed with Real Madrid for two or three more years, or for the rest of my career. But things change, things happen. I have a lot of respect for the President and I have a lot of respect for Fabio Capello. He’s one of the best managers in football. I respect him as a person and as a manager. I wish him luck with everything that he continues to do for Real Madrid and in his life. But for me, my Real Madrid career will be over after Sunday.

Was this decision detrimental for you?

Hindsight is a strange thing. My life and career here six to eight months ago was a lot different to what it was before and to what it is now. I had to make a decision when I was told that I would be leaving the club at the end of the season. My decision was to sign for the L.A. Galaxy. I am very honoured that they have given me the chance to play, and to hopefully take soccer in America to a different level. That’s what I’m going to try to do. That’s my next challenge, and I’m looking forward to it. A lot of things have gone on. If it was different, who knows what would have happened.

Did you think that you would hang your boots here?

I said before that I would stay at Real Madrid and finish my career, but I never thought I would leave Manchester United either, which I did four years ago. Things change in football and in life. I’ve made a decision and I don’t regret it. I’m looking forward to the challenge, but I will be sad to leave Spain and I’ll be sad to leave Real Madrid. I’ve got so many great memories here. I haven’t won anything in four years, but hopefully that’s going to change this Sunday. I’ve always said in my life and in my career that I never want to regret any decision that I make throughout my career and throughout my life. I’ve done that so far, so I don’t regret this one. As I said, I will be really sad to leave Madrid and I think it will be a very emotional day on Sunday.

Many things have happened in these last four years…

I think many things have happened since I signed for the Galaxy and many things have happened since I signed for Real Madrid. There have been many managers, many Presidents, many players, and I rented many houses. So many things have changed, but I will always have respect. I will never criticise some things that have gone on at the club that are very different from when I was at Manchester United. I’ve enjoyed my time in Real Madrid. It’s been very different than my time in Manchester United, but I have affection for the fans and for the people in Spain, and for Real Madrid as a club. It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest club in the world, and to have the honour of playing here for four years to play for this club and with this white shirt has been a real honour.

What is your best memory of your time here?

My best memory so far was signing for Real Madrid, but I’m hoping that changes on Sunday. I want my memories here to be taken up a level by winning something with this club. That’s what I want my best memory to be. There’s no doubt that I will feel very sad on Sunday. I’m honoured to be sharing my last match with Real Madrid with Roberto Carlos, not just because he’s been one of the best players in the world for many years in his position, but because he has become a very good friend of mine. I am honoured to be sharing my last game with him. I am going to be very sad because, as I said, the people have been incredible to me outside of the stadium as well as inside for every match over these four years. The way they have treated me absolutely amazes me. When I signed for Real Madrid people told me how difficult it would be to play at the Bernabéu, and how tough and hard the people are to please because the expectations at Real Madrid are so high. I am very honoured and very glad to have met the expectations that they set, and I hope that we can reward them with a trophy. I’m going to be keeping my last shirt. I have my first shirt from my first game at the Bernabéu and now I’m going to keep my last shirt. That’s one thing I’m going to be taking from the club.

How would you explain to all Madridistas why you are leaving?

In four years, the people and the fans have been incredible. But now I had to make a decision because after my contract with Real Madrid was finished this summer, it wasn’t going to be renewed. I need to make a decision on where to go, and my main option was the United States. I am very happy about my decision now. I think it’s a very exciting prospect for me. The people and Real Madrid fans have been incredible. Not just to me, but to my family, my children, and my wife. I will never ever forget how I have been both on and off the field. I have to say thank you.

You came to win titles and you could actually do it in your last gasp at Real Madrid.

The most important thing is the game on Sunday. What has gone on before now doesn’t matter because the game on Sunday is the biggest opportunity for me, the team, the players, and the club to win a trophy. It’s what I came to Real Madrid for. I didn’t just come to play with the likes of Raúl, Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and everybody else, but to win trophies as well. Hopefully we can do it on Sunday.

Let's say it's the 89th minute fo the match. It's 0-0. There's a free kick. Who would take it, you or Roberto Carlos?

Roberto is my friend, so we have to discuss who will take the free kick. I don’t care who takes it, as long as we score. I don’t care if it’s me, Roberto, or even Iker. All that matters is scoring. Hopefully it doesn’t come down to that. I hope we score a bit earlier than that, but we’ll see.

Do you have anything to say to Fabio Capello?

I’m not going to criticise Fabio Capello because I have too much respect for him as a person and manager. He’s achieved so much in his career, not just here, but with every team that he has taken control of. That’s the main reason why I will never criticise him as a manager. Everybody knows that that was a difficult time, and I think that there were many other things going on around the club, not just what was happening on the football pitch.

Did that one-month break in January benefit you in any way?

I was spending time with my family when I wasn’t playing or training with the team. It was a position that I had never been in before, so I was getting my rest in and I was having days off when the players were meeting up with their national teams. So that’s probably why I’m so fresh now, but I’ve also got a lot of confidence now when I play. I always have to have confidence, but six months ago it was knocked out of me. But I’ve gotten in back now and I’ve been enjoying the rest of the season, the last game being on Sunday. I can’t wait.

Is it painful to leave top flight football?

I’ve had 15 years playing top-flight football for Manchester United and Real Madrid. Everybody knows that the level of football is different in America, but I have been very honoured and I have had such an amazing career playing for two of the biggest clubs in the world, playing in many big competitions, and winning everything possible for Manchester United, and hopefully something with Real Madrid before I leave. But it’s going to be sad. I’m going to be sad on Sunday because of the four years I’ve spent here and the way the people have treated me. I’m moving on to new challenges. It’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to and a challenge that will be difficult, but it’s also going to be rewarding being that I have the chance to take football in America, soccer as they call it, to another level. I’m excited about this opportunity and will be ready for the challenge.

But to win the League you first need to defeat Mallorca…

Winning the League is still difficult because we have a big match on Sunday. We have to relax because everyone was very excited after the game we played the other day. Everybody… the club, the fans, the players. But the League is not over. We have to win on Sunday. If we win, then we will enjoy the celebrations after.

Was this the toughest season you have ever lived?

It’s possibly been the toughest and most difficult season of my career, on and off the field. 1998 was difficult, but I think that this season I’ve gone through things that I never thought were possible. It’s been difficult, but I’ve had a lot of people around me. I’ve had a lot of friends, not just my family and English friends. I have a lot of friends that have given me so much support while I’ve been at Real Madrid, and especially this season. As I said before, it was the most difficult time I’ve had in my career; not being involved in training, not being involved in matches, and certain things being said about me that weren’t true. I want everybody to know that I have always loved this club and I have always given everything to play for this club and to be out there at the Bernabéu. It’s one of the best stadiums in the world and I have been honoured to play there for four years now.

Could playing in the US be detrimental vis-a-vis being called up for international duty with the England squad?

Without a doubt. The manager has already made it clear there won’t be a problem as long as my fitness is right and as long as I’m playing like I have been over the last six months, which is why he brought me back in the first place. I believe my fitness will be the same as what it is now, if not better. I don’t think I, or anybody else involved, have any reason to worry.

Everyone has an opinion about the decision you have taken…

I think everybody has their own opinion, not just about my decisions over the last six months, but about my entire career. Some people think that I shouldn’t be in the team and others think I should. Some think I’m doing the right thing by signing for the L.A. Galaxy, and as they have been saying, going into semi-retirement, which I don’t think is the case. Then there are others that think that I can play for another two or three years at the top level and I’m one of those people. I don’t think it’s too early to be doing what I’m doing. I think it’s important for me to go to America, to play for the Galaxy, and to be an ambassador of the MLS at an age where I can still perform. I didn’t want to go there with people expecting so much and me being unable to deliver. I’ve always tried to deliver throughout my career, both on and off the pitch. So, everybody has their own opinion. I can’t change what some think, but I have change what others think by the way I have played on the football pitch, and that’s all the interests me.

Even Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke favourably about your return to the English team…

I think it’s an amazing honour whenever a Prime Minister speaks about you. The Prime Minister has spoken many times about me as a person and as a footballer. I’m very honoured and thankful for that, but it’s what I love doing. I love playing football and when I get criticized, it’s my way of coming back as a stronger person and stronger footballer, Whenever the criticism gets thrown at me, then I find a way of dealing with it and becoming a stronger and better person for it. I have to thank the Prime Minister because, as I said, he spoke so highly about me. He’s a man that knows about tremendous pressure, probably more than many people in the world, so for him to take the time to say the words that he has about me and my career, I’m very flattered and very honoured.

A message for the fans.

For all the people and fans, thank you very much for everything. I would like to thank the press, the people in Spain, the fans in the Bernabéu, my teammates, my coaches... Thank you so much. It has been a real honour and pleasure to play for this team and this club. Thank you so much and farewell.

Your last thought please.

I need to stress that I’ve had four amazing years, whether we won on Sunday or not. But winning this Sunday will top things off for me. I’ve had an amazing for years with this club, the people within the club, the people around the city, and with the press. They’ve all been really kind to me, and I want to say thank you for that. I want to thank the coaches that I’ve had, to the Presidents I’ve had, and to everybody involved in making it possible for me to play here. It’s been an honour. It’s been a dream playing here. I want to wish the team good luck in the future. I want to wish the captain good luck because he has been a tower of strength for many people and for the team, and he’s been a person that a lot of people should look up to because he is very dedicated to what he does and what he believes in. Thank you to him and the rest of the team, and good luck throughout the rest of their careers.

http://img34.imagevenue.com/loc923/th_22252_Celebutopia-

why are those pix here? isn't it a thread about her?

there is a thread about her, but I think that there is no sense to look there, because I'm not her fan. I like to see her pics sometimes cause she has a lot of influence on David.

Thank you Luno.

He's handsome.

Thank u LuNo

You're welcome Vanezinha & Sandy

Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca

GOALKEEPERS: Casillas, Diego López

DEFENDERS: Ramos, Cicinho, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Roberto Carlos, Pavón and Salgado.

MIDFIELDERS: Guti, Gago, Diarra, Robinho, Beckham, Emerson and Reyes.

FORWARDS: Raúl, Higuaín and Van Nistelrooy.

Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca

LINE UP: Casillas, Salgado, Ramos, Cannavaro, R.Carlos, Emerson, Diarra, Beckham, Robinho, Raúl, RVN.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:hell yea!: :hell yea!: :hell yea!: :hell yea!: :hell yea!: :clap: :clap:

Thank u LuNo