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I Find This Increasingly Hysterical

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Remember the glorly days of Beckham bashing? You know, like, way back in March? I'm sure they will return soon enough (say mid-July), but for now the turnaround is funny to watch.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was quoted in the Spanish media as saying that he would try to persuade the England star to stay and would use an escape clause in Beckham's Galaxy contract to withdraw from the deal.

"We have to sit down with him, his representatives and with [Madrid sport director Predrag] Mijatovic, take a look at that clause and decide among us," said Calderon, speaking at the French Open final in Paris. "But for me, I would love it if he stayed at our club."

Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas told The Associated Press there is no escape clause in Beckham's contract.

Or this:

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello admits he was wrong to drop David Beckham earlier this season.

Capello benched Beckham in January, questioning his motivation, after the England star signed a five-year deal to join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. But, since being reinstated by Capello, Beckham has played a major role in Madrid's charge toward a possible 30th Spanish league title.

"The truth is with him we were all wrong," Capello said in an interview Monday with Spanish daily As.

Capello also echoed comments by club president Ramon Calderon that he would like Beckham to stay at Madrid rather than join the Galaxy next month after the Spanish season is over.

"He would be an important player for Madrid, definitely," Capello said. "If the club told me Beckham was staying, I would be happy."

Calderon suggested Sunday that Beckham had an escape clause in his Galaxy contract that would allow him to stay at the Spanish club. But Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas and Beckham's agent denied that and said Beckham was definitely going to the MLS club.

"It's a shame," Capello said.

No, it isn't a shame. It is funny.
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Comments

Southlandish said…
It has been a riot to watch here. Beckham is God again on this side of the pond.
June 12, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Southlandish said…
I was pleased to see it widely quoted over here that Lalas is saying he will personally drive Beckham to the airport for his England internationals. That's the wise thing to put out there for the MLS. It may hurt to lose him for five matches this season but the long term upside is incalculable if he is on his game THERE as well as here.

If the world's most recognized player is performing well in Euro 2008 and garnering countless column inches of international press for it while playing in LA, soak it up and milk it for all it is worth.
June 12, 2007 at 5:47 PM
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