Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon revealed on Thursday that he had been stunned by David Beckham’s axing from the England team.
”It seems hard to accept that he is not there,” Calderon said of Beckham’s exclusion from every squad since Steve McClaren took charge.
”I’d always have in my team David Beckham for England. If I were the English coach, of course I’d call David Beckham, definitely.”
Ironically, the former England skipper is not even guaranteed his place in the Real side at present after starting the last four games on the bench.
His contract expires this summer and Calderon, who is hopeful of the midfielder agreeing a further two-year contract, refused to rule out Beckham being forced to take a pay cut were he to sign a new deal.
”He is playing very well, supporters like him and me as a chairman would like to have him for two years at least,” Calderon told BBC radio.
”Many sponsors and companies want to have Beckham with them — but if he wasn’t a very good player they couldn’t be doing what he’s doing in the commercial line.
”He is going to play, I don’t know if it will be as a starter but definitely he is going to be one of the most important players for Real.”
Calderon also said Jonathan Woodgate would be welcome back at the Bernabeu if he decides not to make his loan move to Middlesbrough permanent.
The 26-year-old joined Real from Newcastle for £13,4-million two years ago but made only a handful of appearances because of injury.
He has been at hometown club Boro for five weeks and has been impressive at the heart of their defence.
”We wish the best for him,” Calderon said. ”He had a very bad moment here. He had a very difficult injury. We know that now he’s playing very well. We don’t really know
if he wants to come back here. We’d like to if he decides that.” – Sapa-AFP