David Beckham may have yet to pull on the famous white shirt in a competitive match, but after four friendlies on his new club’s Asian tour he is already seen as a fixture in Real Madrid’s star-studded side.
As the squad arrived back in Spain in the early hours of Monday from Bangkok Spanish media were poring over Beckham’s contribution to the four-nation tour, which brought wins over the Thai national side, a Hong Kong XI, Japanese outfit FC Tokyo and a Chinese XI.
”Beckham was the only ‘fixture’. He was the only regular in the four games,” said Marca sports daily.
”David Beckham finished up the Asian tour as the player most used by [coach] Carlos Queiroz,” said Marca, noting Beckham had played 301 minutes of a possible 360. ”The Englishman appears to be the galactico [superstar] who has taken the least time to fit in to the team.”
Beckham, whose transfer from Manchester United has been regarded in some quarters as a marketing ploy to boost Real’s global presence, particularly given the adulation that surrounds his visits to Asia, scored his first goal in Real’s colours in
Tuesday’s win over FC Tokyo.
”Beckham’s performances matched expectations,” noted Marca, which believes the midfielder has taken to his new environment like a duck to water.
AS daily echoed that sentiment, noting that ”Beckham shone in attacking play and helped out with defensive duties.”
For Marca, however, if Beckham is the icing on a very rich Madrid cake it sees Frenchman Zinedine Zidane as the primary influence over the side — save for the Tokyo match when he was rested.
”Madrid won under the Frenchman’s command,” said Marca, which hailed what it dubbed ”Zidane Team”.
”Real dance to Zidane’s rhythm. As always, he has been majestic,” the daily drooled.
On the potential downside for Real is that they now have to reacclimatise to Europe with a fortnight to go before the start of the domestic season.
Already the club have to deal with niggling injuries. Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo, who has switched to the left to incorporate Beckham, sustained a minor injury in the Hong Kong match.
Brazilian striker Ronaldo likewise missed the Thai encounter with a strained left leg muscle. But Queiroz, who like Beckham joined from United, insists the club will be raring to go once the whiff of competitive matches gets in their nostrils with a
domestic title defence and a 10th European Cup the targets.
”I don’t think this tour will cost us. I think everything will be fine once we come to the end of the pre-season period,” said Queiroz at the end of the club’s 18-day, 28 500km marathon.
On Beckham’s status at the club he told reporters: ”The squad have welcomed him with open arms.”
Three fringe players, including former England and Liverpool man Steve McManaman, are meanwhile set to look for pastures new after failing to feature in any of the tour action. — Sapa-AP