‘Beckham misled Real’

MADRID: Real Madrid chairman Ramon Calderon said on Monday that Los Angeles-bound David Beckham had effectively misled the Spanish club as he claimed the former England star agreed his lucrative deal with Los Angeles Galaxy before the winter transfer window opened. “Beckham messed us around for two months,” Calderon said, in allusion to Beckham finally deciding to end his Spanish adventure and not sign a proposed two-year extension with Real.

“Neither he nor his representatives told us he had signed for a club, nor that he had bought a house and that he was all ready to leave. His time at Real Madrid did not deserve to end like this. I didn’t like his behaviour, nor did the coach, who understood his mind was elsewhere,” Calderon added of Beckham, whose professionalism he had previously lauded. “Beckham was a model player and a model person but he didn’t act as he should have done.”

Although Beckham is not officially due to link up with LA Galaxy until August, Real coach Fabio Capello has said he would not play for the Spaniards again.