Real hope over Beckham deal

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon hopes David Beckham will sign his new contract this month but insists his value as a player is as important as his commercial worth.

Calderon, elected Bernabeu president in the summer, believes former England captain, 31, will retire in two years but hopes he will see out his career in the Spanish capital.

"As far as I know he has decided to retire in two years' time. For us it would be fantastic if he can stay with us for the next two years," Calderon told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I met his representative in Salt Lake (City) this summer. In fact he came here a few days ago and we're trying to sign a new contract.

"I hope there's going to be a reality that we can have him forever but I'd say it is going to be two years. We need him, he is playing very well and the coach trusts him."

Beckham's future has been the subject of speculation for some time but Calderon hopes to have his future sorted out before the end of the month.

"We hope everything will be all right in the next 15, 20 days to sign a new contract.

"From what people said to me he is going to retire in two years. I read somewhere that perhaps he's going to the United States for a golden retirement. I don't know really.

"I imagine that if he wants, when he leaves Real Madrid, he can go anywhere in the world - in the States, or why not in England?

"We would like very much to have him here for two years more. It's very important from both sides - not only the commercial, which is what people normally say. He is a very, very good player. He is playing very well, supporters like him and me as a chairman would like to have him for two years at least."