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Report: Beckham agrees to transfer to Real Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) -- Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has agreed to join Real Madrid on a four-year deal after the clubs agreed a transfer fee of between 25 and 30 million euros, (US$29.51M - US$35.41M), Radio Marca said on Tuesday.

Marca said the deal will be confirmed by Manchester United and Real Madrid later on Tuesday and that the England captain will be presented on July 2.

United would not comment on the story while Madrid officials were unavailable but his agent SFX told BBC Radio 5-Live that a deal is "imminent if not concluded."

Last week United announced that they had agreed a conditional bid from Barcelona for Beckham but his agents said that he did not want to join the club.

English and Spanish media have been full of the story ever since, with speculation and denial competing for space.

Real, on the verge of winning the Spanish league title as compensation for their failure to retain their Champions League crown, emerged as favorites as interest from Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan waned.

Beckham, who said last week that he had never promised to see out his career at United, has made no other comment on the matter. He was travelling to Japan on Tuesday as part of a promotional tour of Asia for some of his sponsors.

Now 28, he has been at United since signing as a schoolboy and had two years remaining on a contract he signed a year ago.

Marca reported that he would be earning around 6 million euros (US$7.08M) per year plus bonuses and that he had an option for a further year on his contract.

Contrary to several media reports in both countries this week, the transfer will not include any exchange of players.

 

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