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| Real chief blasts Beckham attitude |
1/16/2007 |
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MADRID, Spain -- Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has publicly criticized David Beckham, saying he messed the club around over his future.
The former England captain announced last Thursday he would not be extending his contract with Real, but would join Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season.
"For months he was messing us around. He never told us he''''d bought a house there and I don''''t think that was right," Calderon told radio station Onda Madrid on Monday.
"He deserved a better end to his time at Real Madrid."
Media reports said Victoria Beckham had travelled to the United States and was looking for a house this week.
In another interview with radio station Onda Cero, Calderon said: "I didn''''t like the way Beckham conducted himself, announcing publicly that he had another team, doing a video-conference..."
After Beckham made his announcement, club coach Fabio Capello said the midfielder would only train with the side and not play for the rest of the season.
The Italian said this had been a joint decision taken by the club''''s technical staff, including sporting director Predrag Mijatovic. He said it was not possible to rely on a player who had a contract with another club.
Beckham was left in the stands for Sunday''''s Primera Liga match at home to Real Zaragoza, which Real won 1-0..
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber denied reports that the league was trying to secure an early release for Beckham from his Real deal.
Spanish media had quoted Garber saying Beckham''''s lawyers were working to get an amicable exit because the league was unable to pay the buy-out clause to bring him to the L.A.Galaxy before his contract ends in June.
But Garber said in a statement issued later on Monday: "David Beckham remains a member of the Real Madrid club until his contract expires (on) June 30".
"Unless otherwise informed, we are looking forward to welcoming David this summer following the end of his contract with Real Madrid."
The Spanish reports had quoted Garber saying MLS and the Galaxy were doing everything they could to enable the former England captain to move sooner.
''''Fabricated quotes''''
However, Garber added in his statement: "There have been many recent reports from the news media that have attributed incorrect quotes from my office, including fabricated quotes that were attributed directly to me earlier today.
"I am out of the country in Mexico and have not spoken with any journalists since the afternoon of January 13."
Beckham has agreed a move to the Galaxy when his Real contract expires. The five-year deal with the MLS side is worth $250 million, the biggest in world sport.
Calderon, meanwhile, also confirmed that Brazil striker Ronaldo did not feature in Capello''''s plans along with Beckham and Italian striker Antonio Cassano.
But that could change after the news that striker Raul and Brazilian midfielder Emerson have been sidelined after picking up injuries.
Raul tore a thigh muscle after 15 minutes of Sunday''''s 1-0 league win over Real Zaragoza and had to be substituted. The normal recovery period for the injury is about three weeks.
Emerson has a muscle problem in his right leg and is expected to be out for up to a month.
Both players are doubtful for the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on February 20.
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