Real turn the heat on Beckham

14 April 2012

Beckham's attempts at a dignified hero's exit from the Bernabeu have been under fire since he declared his intention to join Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

He was frozen out of the first team by boss Fabio Capello and yesterday's outburst from Calderon came just a day after an attack on the way Beckham's agents do business.

In a speech to university students, Calderon said: "He's going to Hollywood to be half a film star. Our technical staff were right not to extend his contract. That has been proved by the fact that no other technical staff in the world wanted him except Los Angeles."

Calderon's insistence that Beckham is not wanted at the Bernabeu is at odds with his comments only 24 hours earlier when he accused the midfielder of toying' with the offer of a two-year extension to his contract.

He also claimed no clubs were interested in the 31-year-old former England captain but, since January 1, Beckham has been able to talk to other clubs.

More than a dozen teams are understood to have made serious inquiries.

Calderon went on to criticise other Real players and accused top footballers of losing touch with reality.

"There is vanity, egoism and they all think they are superstars," he said. "Real Madrid players never pay for anything. You students have education and culture and that's something that in general they don't possess."

But Real were forced to issue a statement on their website after Calderon's private' speechwas recorded and broadcast. The statement said: "The president was only trying to help students understand the importance of management in a business as big as Real."

Arch-rivals Barcelona criticised Real's decision to alienate Beckham. Barca boss Frank Rijkaard said said: "I wouldn't sideline the player. You always have to look to the interests of the team."

Last February Henrik Larsson struck a deal to return to Helsingborgs but stayed for the rest of the season to help Barcelona win the League and Champions League. He is now on loan at Manchester United.

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