Settled in Madrid

Figo scotches talk of Beckham Real deal

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo ruled out joining Manchester United in an exchange deal for David Beckham and cast doubt on reports that the England captain would sign for the Spanish powerhouse.

Figo, who has three years of his contract to run, said that the rumor that he would leave for United this summer stemmed from "people who want to destabilize Real Madrid because they see that the team is doing well and could do great things this season".

Madrid heads the Spanish league with 11 rounds of matches remaining and meets United in the Champions League quarterfinals on April 8 and 23.

"Where would I be better than at Madrid? It's impossible, isn't it? I feel comfortable and happy at Real Madrid and in (the city of) Madrid. I'm not a player who likes to change team every year. Sporting (Lisbon), Barcelona and Madrid have been my three teams," the Portuguese international was quoted as saying by the leading sports daily Marca on Thursday.

Figo said that comments this week by Madrid president Florentino Perez that he would not be allowed to depart the club had been "very important".

"But the most important thing is that I feel wanted at Madrid. The coach, my teammates, the people at the club and the supporters appreciate and make me feel wanted and that is what's vital," he said.

Figo expressed doubts that Madrid would attempt to sign Beckham this summer, despite a recent hint by the club's sports director Jorge Valdano that the United midfielder "would fit into our project".

"The problem is that it's just talk. I'm not saying this because Real Madrid hasn't got the the money to sign a particular player. I'm saying it because there isn't much money in soccer these days. The game is in crisis and business in general has changed. The days of the big signings are over," he said.

Valdano's remark in an interview with the daily As on Tuesday created a storm of speculation in the Spanish and English media that Beckham would become the latest soccer superstar to join Madrid.

Since Perez's election as president in 2000, Madrid has signed three of the world's top players in successive summers -- Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo. The club twice broke the world's transfer record to acquire Figo and Zidane.

Beckham, who signed a lucrative contract with United last year which runs to 2005, said on Tuesday that any Madrid interest was "an honor" but added "I already play in a great team, which in my view is the best in the world and where I feel at home".

Madrid's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano, who was one of the club's most illustrious players, also said the United star's arrival was unlikely.

"I think it's all of you (the press) who want to sell him to Madrid. Real Madrid already has some excellent players. Let's see who is the smart guy who put him in Madrid. We would have to play with 13 players in the team," di Stefano was quoted as saying in Marca on Thursday.

Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque said that if Madrid signed Beckham, he "would try to find a place for him".

"If the club believes that it's a good thing to sign a particular player then it's because it thinks that he would help our squad. We wouldn't sign him to create problems," del Bosque told the Antena 3 TV station Wednesday.

Khokhlov to leave Sociedad at end of season

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Russian international forward Dmitri Khokhlov is to leave Real Sociedad at the end of the season, news reports said Thursday.

The Basque club decided not to take up an option to renew Khokhlov's contract and will release him in June.

Khokhlov has lost his place this season to Turkish international Nihat Kahveci, who has scored 14 goals as Sociedad has surprisingly emerged as a candidate for the league title.

The Basque club lies in second place, three points behind leader Real Madrid, with 11 rounds of matches remaining.

Khokhlov, who joined Sociedad from PSV Eindhoven in 2000, appeared in nearly all of the club's league matches in his first two seasons.

The forward previously played for Torpedo Moscow and CSKA Moscow.

 

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