WOW! I'm shocked! NOT ONLY am I shocked that NO ONE has mentioned this since it happened yesterday but also shocked that he was snatched away from BARCA and for ONLY $48 million! I think he and "Posh Spice" will fit right in to the stylish Madrid upper-society. My goodness, Real Madrid must be LOADED with cash.

And now what? Will they trade Raúl or Renaldo?? (keep in mind I almost don't know what I'm talking about on this topic) Can we imagine these THREE guys on the field at the same time? UNSTOPABLE!!!

Go RealMadrid! As if getting tickets BEFORE wasn't difficult enough. HERE COMES THE BECKHAM MARKETING CAMPAIGN!

USAToday.com article about Beckham going to Real Madrid.

Saludos, MadridMan

Not Raul or Ronaldo, Beckham is not a striker. One in the eye for Barça!

Remember MM member mCmad? I think he may be happy now that he will have the all clear to join in wearing sarongs in Madrid

mCmad AND HIS QUEST TO WEAR A SARONG IN MADRID

Jo

El Boqueron, but with regards to their "salary cap", if they have such a thing in professional soccer/football, can Real AFFORD to keep all three?

Real have only bought Beckham to realise the commercial value in the far east where he is seen as a god, for an investment of £25 million Real will see this turned into at least £150 million in shirt sales alone in the far east, as for playing, he's not fit to lace Raul's,Zidane's,Roberto's or Ghutti's boots.
HALA MADRID

MM - there´s no salary cap (as far as I know), and as bt says, Beckham is a great markleting investment for el Real, particularly in the east.

Who may be sold probably depends on how they play Beckham, which is something of a puzzle.
Beckham's position is right midfield, where Figo is now (BTW at Man U. he wears no. 7, but that's Raul's number, so he won't be getting it!)

A few possibilities:
He plays in his usual position, and Figo moves
to central-left mid-field, though this would put
Figo in the Roberto Carlos "corridor".
Beckham takes a central midfield position, and Figo stays put.

In either case I think Guti would be fighting for his place.

A further possibility is he replaces Figo, who would be worth a lot of money.

All marketing/salary aside, does anyone else think there will be "personality" differences or stealing of the spotlinght issues at hand here? Poor Raúl and Renaldo (among others) have enjoyed LOTS of attention in recent years. What'll happen now that Beckham is the hot comodity? Will Spanish fans take to him although he's not Spanish or Latino? Do Spaniards see him as "The Best Player in Fútbol" as I've been hearing stated on the radio lately?

Saludos, MadridMan

Great article today in the New York Times! Beckham Is Newest Star in Real Madrid\'s Galaxy .

I think they should sell Figo. He is an old man, he ain't even trying anymore
Beckham is such a princess that he will probably lower the morale of the whole team. I don't like the man, but I guess he can be used on the freekicks. Oh, we have Carlos for that. Beckham should just do the promo stuff

Don't get me wrong! I love real madrid and they will win the Champions League next year \o/

Guti is angry and wants to leave Real Madrid, although Real Madrid doesn't want lo let him go for free.
I think the best player of the world is probably Zidane, but is always Raul who has to appear when things go wrong. I don't think Beckam will be a problem for them. I don't know for the others.

[And now what? Will they trade Raúl or Renaldo?? (keep in mind I almost don't know what I'm talking about on this topic) Can we imagine these THREE guys on the field at the same time? UNSTOPABLE!!!]

If Raul was to be sold, I would stop supporting Madrid!

Link

Manual de español urgente para Beckham

http://elmundodeporte.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2003/06/19/futbol/1056024777.html

I just came back from Madrid 4 days ago, and would say that Beckham was well established there before hand. It's not that hard to find his jersey around town. And I even bought his poster in El Corte Ingles. They didn't sell any other soccer player posters ONLY Beckham's. I love soccer with a passion, and love Real Madrid. Personally I think that Raul and Ronaldo *the double R combo* is amazing. Beckham is great too. About stealing the spotlight, I don't think it will be a big issue, since with Beckham they will be an all around better team. From what I hear Raul doesn't want to give up his number, so that could be an issue. Raul is known for being number 7 for Real Madrid. However, if Beckham is a gentleman, I really think that he should swith numbers, as he did teams.

Paco, that's a great link!!

I am really looking forward to seeing him at Malaga when he plays here next season. I won't bait him too much.... Actually I think he's a great footballer and I hope he fits in well over here. Still couldn't resist putting a few more here though...... Try these......

Q...How do you make Posh and Beck's laugh on Friday?
A...Tell them a joke on Tuesday.

Q...What did Posh say to Beck's when she found out she was pregnant?
A...Are you sure it's mine David....?

Q... What's the difference between David Beckham and a supermarket trolley?
A... The trolley has a mind of it's own.

Q... Why does Beckham have T.G.I.F printed on the front of his boots?
A... Toes Go In First!

What have Posh Spice and David Beckham got in common?
They're both crap footballers.

Why does Posh Spice always go on top when she and Beckham are having sex?
Beckham can only screw up.

Posh Spice and David Beckham were sat in front of the Television (both in her underwear) watching the Six o'clock news. The headline feature was a man who was threatening to jump off the Clifton Suspension Bridge onto the busy road below. Posh turns to Beckham and says "Dave, I bet you £5000 that he jumps!" to which Beckham replies "5000! Done" The pair shake on it and continue watching the commotion on the TV. Sure enough, the man jumps and hits the road below with a loud thud. Beckham takes 5000 out of his pocket and gives it to Posh. "I can't take that from you, Dave" she says. "I was cheating. I saw the five o'clock news so I knew what was going to happen. I can't accept that money". Beckham replies "No Posh. The money is yours fair and square. I was cheating too, I saw the news at five. I just didn't think he would do it again!!!"

These from the Guardian gave me a giggle especially "does my bum look big in this sarong?"

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,975214,00.html

Now I know what Posh means...

Could you speak a little slower, my English is not very good?

¿Puede usted hablar un poco más lento mi inglés no es muy bueno?


******************************************
And miguelito ... 'posh'? Go on then .... explique

******************************************



(... giving MM a run for his money)

Posh = la pija, isn't it?
(At first I thought it was her name, he he)
I was asking myself if Guti wants to leave RM because he won't play so much or because he won't be the most fashion player anymore...

There's so much expectation with the Beckham affair... Personally, I think that, although he's a good player, he's more an icon, making more money because of his glamourous lifestyle that with his football. Give me Zidane, Figo, Raúl and Guti anytime. They're better players than him but Real Madrid is also interested in making money selling merchandise and that's the main reason Beckham is coming. Raúl is keeping the 7, why would he have to give it away?

Miguelito, you might be right, Guti could be upset because we won't be the most "super-disco-fashion" player anymore. Anyway, I would like him to stay in Real Madrid.

BTW, The Guardian should have someone who speaks proper Spanish, in their joke (funny yes)they make not only grammar mistakes but also mix catalan with spanish.

The latest on Beckham's opinion of the deal was posted in the Toronto Star today. Below is the article. Looks as if guapisimo Raúl will keep #7.

--------
Becks sorry for all the fuss
Transfer to Real a mess, star says

Insists he won't take Raul's jersey

David Beckham apologized to his new Real Madrid teammates yesterday for distractions caused by his 35 million euro ($55 million Canadian) transfer from Manchester United.

In his first public comments since the four-year deal was announced Tuesday, Beckham said in Tokyo he was unhappy over some aspects of the way the transfer deal was handled.

He reached out to Real Madrid's most popular player, Raul Gonzalez, saying he had no intention of taking his No. 7 shirt.

"Of course I think it could have been done a little bit differently," Beckham said of the transfer saga. "I think things went on that of course I wouldn't have been happy about."

Beckham declined to say what had upset him. But he later issued a statement saying it was the "timing" of the deal, noting the Spanish League isn't done.

"I want to apologize to the players because all this has not been sort of caused by me," he said. "I want to say that I didn't want it to detract from their last two games of the season, their fight to win the league. I didn't want anything to upset that."

Beckham paid tribute to Raul, the Spanish striker who leads a side that includes world stars Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Zinedine Zidane.

"I heard all this that I wanted the No. 7 shirt," he said. "I'd never even think of taking this off Raul because for me he's the king of Real Madrid.

"I've not even discussed with Real Madrid what number I will get. I've not even said that I would want No. 7, because I wouldn't. I'm saying that now."

Once he gets to Spain July 1, Beckham said, he plans a proper farewell for his Man U fans.

"They've been a massive part of my life and to leave without saying anything wouldn't be right. I owe them a lot."

In related news, ESPN.com announced this afternoon that the New York Yankees have signed the following players to two-year deals:

Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Alex Rodriguez, John Smoltz, Torii Hunter, Barry Zito, and Jason Giambi.

Oh yeah, they already got that last guy.

Florentino Perez and George Steinbrenner should get together and go bowling.

Aupa Athlétic!

Football-wise, he's not fit to lace the boots of Raul, Ronaldo, Figo(in his prime) or Zidane, but, he has the biggest heart I've seen in a footballer for a long time. (I say this from the perspective of someone who HATES M*n U*d with an absolute passion!) Add this to his delivery of the ball from the right and ability at free kicks and I think you've got an absolute steal (the commercial ramifications of signing him mean you'll get the transfer fee back in the first year aswell I'd expect).

This is the first footballer who's celebrity exceeds his ability. Kids here (and esp. in the Far East) are Beckham fans without necessarily being U*d fans. In light of this, I can't wait to buy my 9 year old nephew a Real top with Beckham's name on the back in order to get that filthy rag he wears at present off his back!

There're strong rumours here that Raul might well give up the No. 7 aswell. Any truth in this???

Well, well. It says here that el Real are not going to renew the contract of their manager Vicente del Bosque, and are going after the Man. U coach Carlos Queiroz! Tough job, del Bosque won 2 European cups, and 2 spanish league titles in 4 years. Apparently not good enough

Less surprisingly, Fernando Hierro will not be back at the centre of the Real defence next year. He was the greatest in his time, but he's just too slow now. Any half-decent striker can beat him by just kicking the ball past him and running. Poor old Hierro ("rusty" these days!)can do nothing but lumber hopelessly after them.

Hi all!

I realize that getting Beckham is a neat marketing move which may attract a lot of fans from the East. However, I think so many stars on one team is a little ridiculous. After one or two, heck even three, it just becomes blatant business and really overshadows the sport. Maybe we can outfit Pele with artificial muscles and sign him too !! I am used to this star effect here in NY with the Yankees. Too many stars doesn't do much for the sport. Now we're going to see a lot of frontrunning RM fans and even more sweaty posters of David Beckham.

Mikey