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DAVID BECKHAM WITH REAL MADRID |
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On 17 June 2003, Beckham signed a four-year
contract with Real Madrid of Spain, potentially worth up to €35
million (UK£ 25,000,000, USD $41,000,000). The transfer was
completed on 1 July 2003, and made him the third Englishman to
ever play for the club after Laurie Cunningham in the 1980s, and
Steve McManaman in the late 1990s to early 2000s.
It was speculated that Real's desire to sign him came from the
merchandising opportunities he would bring as well as from his
football ability. For example, Real Madrid shirts bearing his
name and number sold out in Madrid on the day his transfer was
completed and the club were expected to receive €624,000 for the
sale of the shirts.
At the time the transfer was announced, Beckham and his wife
were on a week-long tour of Asia promoting beauty products,
chocolate, motor oil, and mobile phones. It was reported that
this tour would earn more money for the Beckhams than the first
year of David's Real Madrid contract.
Although Beckham had worn the number seven shirt for Manchester
United and England, he was unable to wear it at Madrid as Raúl
González had the right to wear it written into his contract. He
chose to wear 23 instead. At the time, some speculated that this
was a tribute to Michael Jordan who had worn that number for the
Chicago Bulls; however, he has since stated that he was unaware
of this link when selecting his squad number.
2003-04 season
Beckham immediately became a favourite with the Real Madrid
supporters, scoring five times in his first 16 matches, but the
team, whose club president expected them to win either the
Spanish league or the Champions League each season, were not
performing well.
Beckham had further problems in April 2004, when the British
tabloid News of the World carried claims by his former personal
assistant Rebecca Loos that he and Loos had had an extramarital
affair. A week later, the Malaysian-born Australian model Sarah
Marbeck claimed that she had slept with Beckham on two occasions.
Beckham dismissed both accusations as "ludicrous".
Near the end of the 2003 - 2004 season, The Daily Telegraph
reported that Beckham's major sponsors were trying to arrange
for him to return to England for the 2004-05 season. Sources
within the family told the The Daily Telegraph that Beckham
would almost certainly be back in London. Real Madrid denied
rumours that they were interested in selling Beckham, and banned
British reporters from access to the team.
Real Madrid finished the season in a diasppointing fourth place
like min, and were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at
the quarter-final stage.
2004-05 season
In July 2004, while David was in pre-season training in Spain,
an intruder scaled a wall at the Beckhams' home while carrying a
can of petrol. Victoria and their children were in the house at
the time, but security guards apprehended the man before he
reached the house.
Real Madrid had another disappointing season, finishing second
in the league to FC Barcelona and only reaching the last sixteen
in the Champions League.
2005-06 season
On 3 December 2005, in the Real Madrid v Getafe match in the
Spanish league, Beckham was again sent off in the 58th minute
for a rash tackle.
Beckham established two football academies bearing his name, one
in Los Angeles and one in east London. He owns a company called
Footwork Productions Ltd. The turnover of the company equates to
David Beckham earning almost £47,500 every day, before expenses.
In January, Beckham was named a judge for the 2006 British Book
Awards. |
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