David Beckham

[vanezinha]

What was that ?

I mean ALL that.

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[vanezinha]

Thx Luno. =)

[LuNo]

You're welcome Vanezinha

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

Real Madrid - Deportivo

Keepers: Iker Casillas, Diego López

Defenders: Miguel Torres, Cicinho, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Marcelo

Midfielders: Emerson, Diarra, Beckham, Gago, Guti, Reyes, Robinho

Strikers: Higuaín, Raúl, Van Nistelrooy.

[footballfan#7]

Posh is smiling - but is Becks getting cold feet?

She's bought the house (£11m) and got the reality TV series. Now she's staging endless publicity stunts on the streets of LA. Just one problem. Is her husband getting cold feet - and wishing he was staying in Spain?

There was an interesting and emotional private celebration last week at Los Molinos, a restaurant just outside Madrid.

David Beckham was presented with a cake with the words "You'll Never Walk Alone" iced on it in chocolate, and an inscribed silver tray which urged him to remember the good times he has had at Real Madrid.

Beckham is said to have had tears in his eyes when he stood up to receive the keepsake.

He told his close friends and team-mates Roberto Carlos, Cicinho and Michel Salgado, who had arranged the party for him: "I will never forget you. You are like my family."

He added: "I will return to Madrid whenever I can."

He was, it seems, genuinely moved by this expression of esteem from his peers, and filled with regret at the thought of leaving them.

A Spanish source suggested that Beckham actually has more friends in the Real dressing room than he ever had at Manchester United.

How, then, must he feel now that his move to Los Angeles is looming?

For Beckham is poised on the brink of what appears to amount to a leap into professional oblivion - and more than one ally of the midfielder claims that he is having serious second thoughts.

"He's starting to get cold feet," said a friend of his sister Joanne this week.

"He would much rather than anything else be with his family in Hertfordshire. He's a home-loving boy."

It is fair to say that the situation now is quite different to the way things were in January when David Beckham signed his epoch-making deal - supposedly worth $250 million - to bring soccer to the Americans.

At that time, he had been dropped by coach Fabio Capello from the Real team. He was also out of the England squad, having resigned the captaincy after the World Cup and then been axed altogether by the incoming coach, Steve McClaren.

Now, though, he is back in the Real side and Madrid are on the brink of winning the league - thanks in no small measure to his renewed sharpness on the pitch.

Commentators hail him as "King David" and he has forged deep and genuine friendships with some of the Madrid players.

There is also a good chance that McClaren will pick him for the national side in the games against Brazil and Estonia next month.

Won't he wonder, when flying off to a meaningless game in the American Mid-West with team-mates who are ludicrously far beneath him in their accomplishments, why he is not playing in the Champions League with Real and being Captain Marvel for his country?

One source at Real said this week that Beckham is having second thoughts about leaving the club, although he knows he is contractually obliged to go to Los Angeles.

But even if he wanted to stay, would he be able to?

For David doesn't tend to get his own way much, and it seems that Victoria Beckham is determined to make the move.

"I'm very excited," she said last week. "David and the boys can't wait. We want to come tomorrow. We love it here [in LA]."

All of which would be more convincing if David had managed to make a single appearance in Los Angeles since signing his deal in January.

He has not even seen the £11 million Italianate house which his wife has bought around the corner from Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, or the schools his children are set to attend.

He has instead been concentrating hard on the end of the season with Real.

He is fitter than ever before, and has a burning desire to see Real win the league - which Victoria does not understand at all.

Victoria, meanwhile, has been busy socialising and shopping, and only has time for their new adventure.

She, of course, will be happy to see their Spanish era coming to an end - and with it the spectre of her husband's fleeting affair with Rebecca Loos.

She is not in the mood for sentimental goodbyes or compromise deals with her husband.

In one recent argument, she was furious when David had a massive new tattoo on his arm - inked during one of her many absences in America.

She had told him what she thought of the idea over the phone and he apparently went ahead and did it anyway - perhaps a minor act of defiance but one which resulted in some fireworks.

The bickering has been fairly serious at times. One friend indicates that the tattoo row was one of many heated transatlantic exchanges.

In the more serious arguments, David apparently says that Victoria isn't giving him any of her time, and tells her how unhappy he is.

(This is a replay, of course, of what he used to say when she was working on her never released album in New York and hanging out with Damon Dash - just before he fell into bed with Loos.)

A friend says: "The bottom line is that she is naturally very excited about moving to Los Angeles, and is bored to tears when David bangs on about how lovely it has been in Madrid and his wonderful friends. It makes her roll her eyes."

Indeed, when she made a rare appearance at her husband's side to watch a game last week (he was serving a one-match ban), she spent most of the time fiddling with her manicure and looking as if she was about to expire from ennui.

But David Beckham would have to be a very brave man to contemplate derailing the Posh-does-Hollywood road show.

She is making a "documentary" about their move to Los Angeles for NBC, and has spent the week busily pulling off telegenic stunts to give the network some material.

Incidentally, despite her manager Simon Fuller's claims that NBC are paying her $20 million for the show, it is destined to go out on their cable off-shoot Bravo and has "nothing like" a $20 million budget, according to one well-placed source.

On Tuesday, she very publicly visited a sex shop with her team in tow, browsing adult toys and kinky outfits and leaving with a bag of purchases.

She also took a "lookalike" blow-up doll out with her in her car, supposedly to fool the paparazzi - who seem to know exactly where she will be at any moment of the day or night.

Who on earth could be tipping them off on her whereabouts?

Then on Wednesday, while being filmed having her driving lesson for the show, and with all the hallmarks of a choreographed publicity stunt, she was stopped by police for making an illegal right turn in front of them and taken off to apply for a Californian driving licence.

Every moment was - naturally - captured by the paparazzi, who, like magic, just happened to be right there, as well as her own film crew.

"It was all a bit embarrassing, but luckily no charges were brought against her and it'll make great material for the TV show," her lackeys said.

But there are already some signs of a backlash in America, where, despite her many efforts, Victoria is still a dimly known figure at best.

There has been an internet campaign to get her to wear a bra, and T-shirts imploring the Brits to "Free Becks, keep Posh" - which are selling briskly in media savvy circles.

But Victoria is undeterred. Apart from her PR offensive, and attempts to make herself known as a fashion icon in America, she is in charge of all the elements of the relocation.

She is trying to hire a family to act as live-in housekeepers, preferably comprising four staff members.

She also wants to find two nannies to look after Brooklyn, eight, Romeo, four, and Cruz, two. The salary on offer is an eye-watering £6,000 a month.

Her mother Jackie is doing the first interviews with candidates, and Victoria is seeing the shortlist.

Her requirements - apart from plain looks - are that the applicants should have perfect good manners and perfect spoken English.

Meanwhile, her father Tony is setting about organising the family's personal security and transport.

Neither Jackie nor Tony will live with the family, though. Jackie has agreed to stay for six months to help her settle in, and also to be with the boys while Victoria does promotional work for the release of the Spice Girls greatest hits.

It is due to come out in time for Christmas, and there is talk of TV specials and perhaps even a massive one-off Spice Girls concert.

If a reunion happens, Victoria will also be absent for most of the autumn. She also has her clothing line and accessories range to work on.

So where will that leave David? He thinks he's going to enjoy hanging out with Tom Cruise, who counselled him to make the move, and that he will also like J-Lo and her husband Marc Anthony, whom he met briefly at the Cruise wedding - but the answer is, largely, alone.

Terry Byrne, David's manager, who is a close friend and godfather to Romeo and Brooklyn, will not be moving to LA to keep him company.

Neither will his football agent, Simon Olivera.

Added to this, he will have to put up with the pressure of living on camera, which he does not enjoy. He was visibly irritated when Posh set up an ITV documentary two years ago.

An LA source said: "David hasn't yet shown much enthusiasm about coming here.

"He has been a bit slow on the uptake, but it has now dawned on him that when he gets over here, there will only be a short amount of time before the Spice Girls will be kicking off again.

"He says he wants a quiet life. He is supportive of her career - but he hates it when she gets ambitious.

"Victoria's argument is that she never got the chance to peak in her career.

"As much as she supports him, it galls her that he got the MBE and all her achievements have been forgotten.

"After all, she was in the most successful girl group ever.£

The Mail believes that Victoria has refused his request to go to their house in Cannes for a three-week holiday in late June/early July.

Victoria has said he can take his break at their new house instead. (It is being decorated in a minimalist Eastern style by her interior designer pal Kelly Hoppen.)

But David is still making - in public at least - all the right noises about his move.

"For the kids to live there, with great weather almost every day, going to a great school, the whole lifestyle, the passion for sport . . . I know we'll fit in," he says.

The money, it seems, is not quite the £125 million mega-deal trumpeted back in January by Fuller.

David Beckham will be on a salary of around £3.25 million, with a further £1.75 million on top of that in guaranteed income from side deals such as gate receipts and shirt sales.

Then he will earn money, as before, from big commercial deals such as the ones he currently holds with Adidas and Gillette.

He also has full image rights, and will be able to profit massively if he can succeed where Pele and George Best failed and turn America on to what they call "soccer" - a game regarded by the great mass of Americans as a game mostly suitable for teenage girls.

Beckham was described by one popular columnist recently as "an effete British man who plays a predominantly children's sport for a living".

Simon Olivera insists America is all part of Beckham's plan.

"Genuinely, there are no regrets," he says. "David is looking forward to the challenge."

But what about the impact of the move on his dream to play for his country again?

"There are a lot of players in the States who play internationally for their countries, so I don't buy that it ends his international career," says Olivera.

"I think that the story which people do not write is about his grace under pressure; how he had a really hard time earlier this year, but just got his head down and worked hard, and then turned it around."

It is true that, more than once, David Beckham has come back when everyone has written him off.

But will this "grace under pressure" be enough to sustain him when he finds himself playing alongside the likes of Nathan Sturgis, Quavas Kirk and Gavin Glinton?

Will he really learn anything from Frank Yallop, formerly of Ipswich Town? Won't he be miserable, bored and frustrated?

And so the question remains: even if he can put aside his own ambitions - and that's a really big if - how long will David Beckham tolerate being left alone by his wife while she pursues those unfulfilled ambitions of hers?

[footballfan#7]

^I could see that as being true. David looks so happy when he's at training and with the other players and if he was as excited as posh is saying then he would have been more involved with the preperations for the move.

Plus the video of them watching the game shows just how much he cares about real madrid and how little she cares.

[sandy]

Beckham: I wanted Milan

David Beckham told the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ that the toughest decision of his career was turning down Milan to join LA Galaxy and explains why Antonio Cassano is “crazy.”

The Real Madrid man’s contract expires next month and in January he was free to negotiate with a number of clubs.

Milan announced they had been his number one option if Becks had decided to stay in Europe and the player admits that is true.

“It was not easy to say no to Milan, one of the best clubs in the world. The squad, the Coach, the President, the city and then Ronaldo went there too. It was a very tough choice,” said the England international who today received a surprise recall from Steve McClaren for the friendly against Brazil and Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia.

“I was honoured, flattered and tempted. But I had to think about my family and wanted a different challenge.

“I am well aware that football in the States cannot be compared to that in Europe, but I see it as a challenge. I am not just going there to play, I am an ambassador for a movement.

“I would have liked to play in Serie A. Italy is a country I love because it has everything – great football, great players, the best food in the world, wine, fashion, countryside. Last year I was in Portofino and have often gone to Tuscany. We even thought of getting a house there.”

Former Real teammate Ronaldo was celebrating the Champions League trophy in Athens and Beckham could have been there with him.

“It was a deserved success, especially considering everything they did during the season. The second leg against Manchester United was the perfect performance. Milan play great football, work hard, score fantastic goals and have extraordinary talents like Kaka.”

Liverpool felt they were unfortunate after losing the Final 2-1 on Wednesday, but Beckham does not see it that way.

“Liverpool know it too, Milan played better in Athens and they won. Filippo Inzaghi has scored extraordinary goals, important goals and fortunate goals. But you cannot talk about luck really in his case – he has been hitting the back of the net all his life and is to be admired.”

The race for the Ballon d’Or is Milan-heavy this year and captain Paolo Maldini is in the running.

“He deserves to challenge for it with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Anyone who at the age of 39 is playing in a club like Milan and has the respect that Maldini commands deserves to win. But it will be difficult.”

Beckham is a teammate of current European and World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro and another Italian talent, Antonio Cassano, at Real.

“They are very different, both great lads. Cassano is crazy, but he’s also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He is always happy, ready to laugh and joke around, not to mention a real talent. I’d like him to play more.

“Cannavaro is one of the best defenders I have ever known. We got on well off the field as well, we’re good friends.”

The same cannot be said of Coach Fabio Capello, who often clashed with Beckham at the Bernabeu and froze him out after he signed for LA Galaxy.

“He is one of the greatest managers in the world. Whatever you may say about him, his career speaks for itself. He is a winner, someone who believes in his players and is on our side. These are qualities you could see despite the problems within the club.”

[Compassionate_Conservative]

Thanks everyone!

[Ange]

Merci everyone

[Ange]

MATCH REPORT

3 - Real Madrid: Iker Casillas; Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos (Cicinho, min.89); Beckham, Gago, Diarra, Robinho (Guti, min. 76); Raul and Van Nistelrooy (Higuai­n, min.90).

1 - Deportivo La Coruna: Aouate; Coloccini, Andrade, Lopo, Capdevila; Estoyanoff (Bodipo, min. 62), De Guzma¡n, Sergio (Verdu, min. 78), Cristian; Juan Rodri­guez and Arizmendi (Barraga¡n, min.86).

Goals:

1-0. Min. 29: Sergio Ramos boots it in after a header by Van Nistelrooy.

1-1. Min. 55: Capdevila slots home following De Guzma¡n's near post assist.

2-1. Min. 57: Raul heads in a perfect Beckham cross.

3-1. Min. 75: Van Nistelrooy after Raul's burrowing action.

Referee: Ferna¡ndez Borbala¡n, Andalusian Refereeing Committee. Booked Beckham (24') of Real Madrid and Cristian (29'), Estoyanoff (36'), De Guzma¡n (38'), and Coloccini (84') of Deportivo.

Highlights: Attendance: 83,000, for a Santiago Bernabeu full to capacity in Matchday 36 of the Primera Liga. Raul levelled with Gento's 605 match record with Real Madrid and scored his 187th League goal.

[LuNo]

Thanks footballfan#7 & Ange

[Aga]

What was that ?

I mean ALL that.

He just kicked him (you know where) and Beckham got :evil:

[Aga]

[Ange]

De rien Luno

Merci Aga

[LuNo]

Thanks Aga

[LuNo]

Real: We wanted Becks to stay

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists he never wanted David Beckham to leave the club.

The recalled England midfielder's recent fortunes contrast sharply with the first half of this season when he could not even win a first team place at Real.

Calderon was at pains to suggest Beckham, superb for his club side in recent weeks, was ever forced out, and that it was the player's decision to sign a pre-contract agreement with LA Galaxy.

"We didn't let him go, we wanted him to stay," Calderon told Sky Sports News.

"In fact, I personally tried several times to renew his contract but his future is in the United States and we have to accept it.

"We wanted him to remain at Real Madrid but he took his decision and now we have to wish him the best."