We want Beckham to stay : Calderon
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
MADRID, June 11 (AFP):Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said Sunday that the Spanish giant's were going to explore ways of trying to keep former England captain David Beckham at the club.
Beckham stunned the world by announcing on January 11 that he had signed a five-year deal, which could potentially be worth up to 250 million US dollars, to move to American side LA Galaxy at the end of this month
"The public want him to stay and I want him to stay," Calderon told Spanish media in Paris, where he was attending the French Open tennis men's singles final between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer.
Calderon said that there was a clause in his contract with the LA Galaxy, which meant that he could stay in the Spanish capital, although it is the first time such an option has been mentioned publicly.
"We need to sit down with him (Beckham), his representatives and with Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic, look at this clause, and decide between us, but for me I would be delighted if he remained at the club," said Calderon.
But Alexi Lalas, general manager of the Galaxy, rejected the notion Sunday that Beckham would opt out of his contract. "I don't doubt that Real Madrid would love to have David Beckham next season but the reality is that ship has sailed," Lalas said. "We're looking forward to his arrival. Nothing has changed from our perspective."
In the event that Beckham does stay, and the 32 year-old repeatedly said before this season that he would like to end his career in the Spanish capital, it would herald a remarkable turnaround in relations between him and Real.
Beckham stunned the world by announcing on January 11 that he had signed a five-year deal, which could potentially be worth up to 250 million US dollars, to move to American side LA Galaxy at the end of this month
"The public want him to stay and I want him to stay," Calderon told Spanish media in Paris, where he was attending the French Open tennis men's singles final between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer.
Calderon said that there was a clause in his contract with the LA Galaxy, which meant that he could stay in the Spanish capital, although it is the first time such an option has been mentioned publicly.
"We need to sit down with him (Beckham), his representatives and with Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic, look at this clause, and decide between us, but for me I would be delighted if he remained at the club," said Calderon.
But Alexi Lalas, general manager of the Galaxy, rejected the notion Sunday that Beckham would opt out of his contract. "I don't doubt that Real Madrid would love to have David Beckham next season but the reality is that ship has sailed," Lalas said. "We're looking forward to his arrival. Nothing has changed from our perspective."
In the event that Beckham does stay, and the 32 year-old repeatedly said before this season that he would like to end his career in the Spanish capital, it would herald a remarkable turnaround in relations between him and Real.