Beckham signs deal with Real Madrid, setting scene for presentation
FIRMA. Beckham
ya es, de forma oficial, jugador del Real Madrid.
02/07/2003
Beckham signs deal with Real
Madrid, setting scene for presentation
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- David Beckham wasted
little time Tuesday stepping on Real Madrid's field for his first game as a
member of the team.
The opponent for the soccer superstar? Four-year-old son Brooklyn.
Beckham completed his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid and will be
introduced Wednesday in what is expected to be Spain's media event of the
year.
Beckham is the fourth major soccer star -- and most marketable -- to join
Madrid in successive summers since Florentino Perez was elected the club's
president in July 2000. He teams up with Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and
Ronaldo in Madrid's glittering lineup.
Beckham signed a four-year contract at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to
complete his $40 million deal.
On hand were Perez, sports director Jorge Valdano and new coach Carlos
Queiroz, who also joined Madrid from Manchester United last week.
Beckham arrived for the signing accompanied by wife Victoria, a former member
of the Spice Girls, and Brooklyn. Afterward, Beckham asked to step onto the
field.
``I can't wait,'' he said.
He kicked a ball around with Brooklyn before rejoining the proceedings.
The scene was very different from Beckham's most recent appearance on the
Bernabeu turf on April 8. He gave an anonymous display as United lost to his
new team 3-1 in the Champions League.
Beckham's Spanish stay began when he landed Tuesday at the military airport of
Torrejon de Ardoz aboard a private plane from London.
Escorted by police, he made his way to Madrid's Zarzuela clinic for a checkup
-- the final step in his transfer -- and passed within 90 minutes.
The team will introduce England's captain at the stadium of Real Madrid's
basketball team, the 5,000-capacity Raimundo Saporta Pavilion. More than 500
journalists are credentialed for the event.
The presentation will be broadcast live at noon and will coincide with TV
prime-time in Asia, where Beckham received a hero's welcome on his recent
10-day promotional tour.
The club has said Beckham will be presented with Madrid's white shirt by
honorary president and former player Alfredo di Stefano.
Beckham will make his Madrid debut when the team plays four exhibition matches
in the Far East in late July and early August.
The Beckham family spent their first night in Madrid in a lavish 8th-floor
suite, costing $2,077 a night in the downtown Gran Melia Fenix hotel. The 19th
century hotel was frequented in Hollywood's golden days by Rita Hayworth and
Gregory Peck, and by the Beatles during their only ever concert trip to
Madrid, in 1965.