King of Spain

Madrid prepares to welcome Beckham

MADRID (Reuters) -- Move over Juan Carlos! Spain prepared to crown a new king Wednesday as Real Madrid's agreement to sign England captain David Beckham sent the soccer-mad country's media into a frenzy.

"God save the new king!" enthused one excited television reporter as the Spanish media -- in which football and celebrity gossip vie for prominence -- erupted in excitement at the prospect of the arrival of "Becks" and his glamorous wife, former Spice Girl Victoria.

Real Madrid, nine-times European champions, beat off competition from archrival Barcelona to sign the 28-year-old midfielder for a fee of 35 million euros.

Beckham faces free kick fight -- Roberto Carlos MADRID (Reuters) -- Roberto Carlos welcomed David Beckham to Real Madrid on Wednesday but warned the England captain he would face a fight to take the team's free kicks next season. "I'll let him take some of them -- but only some," the Brazilian joked in sports daily Marca. "He's scored some beautiful goals from free kicks but he doesn't have to take all of them." Beckham is famous for his free kicks -- one last-minute effort against Greece guaranteed England a place in the 2002 World Cup finals. Roberto Carlos is renowned for one spectacular effort against France in 1997 but his strike rate from free kicks is poor compared with the Englishman. Beckham is the latest in a long line of the game's most popular and successful players who have moved to Real Madrid after the Spanish club agreed to pay Manchester United up to 35 million euros (US$41 million) for his services. "Our president Florentino Perez has shown he can sign the biggest players," Roberto Carlos said. "Beckham is part of that group and in Real Madrid you can never have too many good players. "I'm sure he'll be well received and he'll settle into the squad well."

Pictures of the couple, the darlings of the British tabloid press, were splashed over the front pages of Spanish newspapers as the local media dwelt on Beckham's glittering pop-star lifestyle and lucrative merchandising power -- almost ignoring his talents on the field.

"King Midas of football," said daily sports paper Marca, emphasizing that the "Spice Boy" would bring in more money in merchandising than Real Madrid's recent high-profile signings, such as Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

Footballing talent

In fact, Beckham's arrival could pose problems for a self-styled "galactic" team already overflowing with attacking footballing talent in the shape of Ronaldo, Portuguese winger Luis Figo, French playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Spain striker Raul.

"The great debate -- where should Becks play," said Marca. "In the center or on the right?." The newspaper quoted Real Madrid's Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos as saying he might allow Beckham to take a few of his trademark free kicks.

Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque played his cards close to his chest.

"He (Beckham) is a symbolic footballer and a great player," Del Bosque told El Pais newspaper. "He is a midfielder who can play in different positions."

While the press heaped praise on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez for assembling a side to rival the golden era of Madrid football of the 1950s, the main loser appeared to be Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta.

Laporta won election on Sunday largely with a high-profile bid to resuscitate the club's fortunes by bringing Beckham to the Catalan capital.

"Real Madrid wins and Laporta makes himself look ridiculous," carped right-wing Spanish daily La Razon.

Laporta himself had emphasized, in the face of Beckham's repeated refusal to countenance a move to Barcelona, that he had never promised to bring the midfielder to the club.

The sporting press reported that Laporta may now pursue Arsenal striker Thierry Henry or Paris St Germain forward Ronaldinho.

 

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