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Journalism of Courage
England captain David Beckham was given the all-clear to become a Real Madrid player after he passed his compulsory medical here today. He will formally sign his contract at a ceremony tomorrow.
‘‘Beckham is in perfect condition to play,’’ commented Real Madrid doctor Alfonso del Corral briefly after Beckham’s two-hour physical at the hospital De la Zarzuela on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. ‘‘He’s a physically strong player and he’s got no problem which will impede him playing at a high level,’’ added Del Corral.
Spanish private health company Sanitas reportedly paid $ 400,000 to sponsor the medical, ‘highlights’ of which will be seen in 39 countries around the world.
The player will limit himself to one exclusive interview later today with the club’s own TV channel Real Madrid TV.
Beckham was greeted on his arrival by scores of other patients, many in pyjamas and dressing gowns, standing on the balconies of their rooms at the private clinic. They had risen from their beds and wheelchairs to see the Beckham entourage roll into town.
Beckham arrived at the hospital accompanied by his wife, former popstar spice girl Victoria Beckham, their four-year-old son Brooklyn and Beckham’s mother. The 28-year-old midfielder, wearing an all-white suit and torn denim jeans, with his hair swept back into a ponytail and sporting a diamond ear stud, had earlier flown into the military airport Torrejon de Ardoz in a private Gulfstream Jet direct from London.
About one hundred die-hard Real Madrid fans, and a similar number of photographers, were on hand to greet Beckham — as was Real Madrid director General Jorge Valdano — but they will have got only a fleeting glimpse of him as he was whisked away from the airport in a cavalcade flanked by police motorcycle outriders.
Beckham will then have dinner with the Real Madrid president Floretino Perez and close friends at the exclusive Hotel Fenix, the first face-to-face encounter between the pair since the deal was confirmed two weeks ago.
He will be presented to the media tomorrow at the home of the Real Madrid basketball team — the 5,000 capacity Raimundo Saporta arena — where 542 sports journalists have been accredited.
Real stressed, however, that only footballing questions will be allowed and they have refused to accredit journalists from the so-called Prensa Rosa — the numerous Spanish lifestyle magazines who would be more interested in Beckham’s off-the-field activities rather than his ability with a ball at his feet.
It is likely to be Beckham’s bank balance that lights up rather than the stage as he signs a four-year contract worth around Euros six million a year, accompanied by Real Madrid’s good and great including their honorary president Alfredo di Stefano.
His salary only tells part of the story and he is expected to further consolidate his position as the world’s richest footballer. Beckham was recently estimated to have earned 15 million Euros last year by the magazine France Football but the Spanish financial magazine Actualidad Economica reckoned today that he could nearly double that amount in the coming year once he is in a Real Madrid jersey.
In an article on Real Madrid’s website on Tuesday, Roberto Carlos said Beckham was one of the very best players and “we will do everything necessary for him to adapt to the team quickly and normally. “The team would now have two good-looking players. Until now, I was the only one,” he said.
One of the questions still to be resolved is the shirt number Beckham will wear. The number four shirt of departing captain and centre-back Fernando Hierro is the only free shirt at the moment but that could change if Fernando Morientes is transferred before the start of the new campaign.
That could see Ronaldo taking the number nine and Beckham being handed number 11, but it is unlikely to be decided before his presentation on Wednesday. The number seven worn by Beckham for both Manchester United and England is held at Real by Raul and is not up for grabs.
