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Real Madrid have had a bid to buy David Beckham out of his LA Galaxy contract rejected by the MLS club.

Real approached the 32-year-old’s advisors and LA Galaxy with their offer but were told “politely but firmly” that Beckham would not change his mind.

The Spanish giants were told Beckham’s contract did not have a get-out clause, which they believe existed.

“Nothing has changed. We can’t wait for Beckham to get here,” LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas told BBC Five Live.

He added: “Real’s hopes about keeping Beckham are benign. As far as that is concerned, that ship has sailed.”

Earlier, the Real’s president Ramon Calderon was reported by Marca newspaper as saying: “We need to sit down with Beckham, his representatives and with (Real sporting director Predrag) Mijatovic, look at this clause, and decide between us.

“But for me I would be delighted if he remained at the club.”

The Madrid side reacted sharply to Beckham’s rejection of their contract offer in January.

Coach Fabio Capello said Beckham would never play for the first-team again.

Calderon was even more scathing, branding Beckham: “an average cinema actor living in Hollywood,” comments which prompted Real’s players to throw their backing behind the England midfielder.

But Beckham’s attitude impressed Capello enough to win back his first-team place.

The England midfielder has been inspirational as Real have put themselves in pole position to win the Spanish title.

The Real boss admitted that he and others at the club made errors in judgement regarding Beckham and that he would like the player to stay on at the Bernabeu.

“Beckham would be a very important player for Madrid, there’s no doubt about that. If the club tells me that Beckham is staying, I would be very happy,” Capello said in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS.

He added: “We have all made mistakes regarding Beckham’s issue. On the sporting side we have made a decision and I am the one that has the maximum responsibility.

“The truth is that with Beckham we made a mistake.

“Beckham is a great player. Now he is playing at the same level as he did at Manchester United.

“He is a player that has recovered his physical and psychological condition because he was upset not to be playing with his national team.

“For every player, the national team is important and for English players, more so.”

Beckham won back his place in the England team, for the games against Brazil and Estonia, after his international career appeared to have ended following England’s exit from last year’s World Cup.

Source: BBCi

Yallop rules out Beckham loan
Los Angeles Galaxy coach Frank Yallop has insisted that David Beckham will not return to a European club on loan later this year.

Beckham has been in fine form for Real Madrid over the last few months and earned a recall to the England squad on Saturday when Steve McClaren named his squad for the upcoming games against Brazil and Estonia.

He will move to America this summer but reports have suggested he could return to the Premiership in November following the conclusion of the Major League Soccer season.

The likes of Everton, Tottenham and Blackburn have been linked with a move for the midfielder, while Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has already expressed a definite interest.

“If it is possible to get David Beckham back to St James’ Park, we would really go for it,” Allardyce said in The People. I would love to have him on board.”

However, Yallop has ruled out such a move, maintaining that Beckham has come to Los Angeles for a fresh challenge and will not be leaving in November.

Yallop told Sky Sports News: “He won’t be going on loan anywhere. He’ll be taking a break at that point and getting ready for our pre-season.

“He’s shown that he’s a world class player, he doesn’t need to go back and go on loan anywhere.”

Beckham, who has so far made 94 appearances for England, appears to have been brought back as a stop-gap measure for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.

However, Yallop believes Beckham will produce a starring performance and make it difficult for McClaren to drop him again.

“I think that David is going to have such an impact when he joins the squad again that I think it will be difficult to leave him out to be honest,” he explained. “We realise that David wants to get to the 100-cap plateau and we will never stop him doing that.”

Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello has also paid tribute to Beckham for his recent form, and claimed he is as fit as he has ever been.

Beckham helped set up two of Real’s goals in the 3-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and also struck the post with an effort from 20 yards.

“I said (on Friday) that David Beckham was playing better than he has over the last two years,” said Capello.

“He is in extraordinary physical condition. When he puts the ball into the centre he does it with much precision, speed and quality. He is in great shape.”

Source: Sky Sports

Wheeling, dealing continues for L.A.
The MLS international transfer window has been open barely a week, but the Los Angeles Galaxy have been busy both internationally as well as domestically.

Beckham sits out Real training session
David Beckham was a notable absentee during Real Madrid’s training session on Tuesday, leaving his participation in Sunday’s highly-anticipated La Liga climax still in doubt.

The England star has been struggling with an ankle injury picked up on international duty, but was fit enough to start in Saturday’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Real Zaragoza before suffering a recurrence of the problem.

Beckham has been an influential figure for Fabio Capello’s side in recent months, as they have strung together an impressive run of form to enjoy the slimmest of advantages heading into the final day of the Spanish season.

Real are currently ahead of Barcelona by virtue of a better head-to-head record, whilst Sevilla are also in contention as they lie two points behind.

A win against Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Sunday will guarantee Los Merengues the title, but Capello must wait to see whether Beckham is able to take the field after the midfielder spent Tuesday receiving treatment in the club’s gym.

The game at the Bernabeu will be Beckham’s last chance to run out for Real before he leaves to join LA Galaxy, and the midfielder will be determined to end his time in Spain with his first piece of major silverware.

Source: Sky Sports

Sweden name injury-hit squad for Euro qualifiers
Sweden named an injury weakened 21-man squad on Tuesday for next month’s Euro 2008 Group F qualifiers.

Coach Lars Lagerback was forced to leave out Olympique Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom and Stade Rennes left back Erik Edman for the games away to Denmark on June 2 and AT home to Iceland on June 6.

However, Lagerback has not lost hope of Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic recovering from groin surgery in time for the qualifiers, naming him in the squad.

AS Roma midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson, who like Ibrahimovic has struggled with a groin injury, was also given a place.

One a more positive note, Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg has fully recovered from a string of injuries which kept him off the pitch for much of the season.

Sweden, who lost their unbeaten run in the qualifiers when they went down 2-1 away to Northern Ireland in March, are second in the group with 12 points from five matches, one point behind the Irish although with a game in hand.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad)

Defenders: Fredrik Stenman (Bayer Leverkusen), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen), Daniel Majstorovic (FC Basel), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Max von Schlebrugge (Anderlecht)

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Gothenburg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Samuel Holmen (Elfsborg), Tobias Linderoth (FC Copenhagen), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Kennedy Bakircioglu (Twente Enschede), Christian Wilhelmsson (AS Roma)

Forwards: Marcus Allback (FC Copenhagen), Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen), Rade Prica (Aalborg BK)

Big Picture

England return delights Beckham
England midfielder David Beckham thanked the fans for helping to make his return from the international wilderness such a special one.

Beckham was given a standing ovation after a fine display in which he set up John Terry for their goal in the 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil at Wembley.

“It is always nice to have the support of the fans,” said the former skipper.

“I’m not sure if I knew I’d ever get this moment again but I’m happy to be part of a historic night.”

The Real Madrid star pulled on England shirt for the first time in 11 months and responded with a performance full of the passion that once made him his country’s talisman.

During the final years of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s reign as coach Beckham faced accusations that he was picked for the side irrespective of form.

When Steve McClaren succeeded Eriksson as coach one of his first decisions was to leave Beckham out of the squad.

But after missing the first nine matches under McClaren the former Manchester United star was recalled for his 95th cap as England played their first senior game at the new Wembley.

Beckham dismissed suggestions that he took his place in the England squad for granted, adding: “I always felt I had to play for my place, not just this week.

“I always believed in whichever team I have been in, wherever I have been I have had to fight for my place and I’ve always done that for England.

“I felt relaxed all week and it is nice to be back with the team.”

His long-term international future is in some doubt with his impending move to the LA Galaxy.

But cap number 96 is sure to follow when England face Estonia in Tallinn on Wednesday in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier.

And the 32-year-old is more interested in helping England to a much-needed victory than discussions about whether McClaren was right to leave him out of previous squads.

“I’m not looking at the past,” he said. “The most important thing is the three points.

“They are a great bunch of lads, they are so free-spirited and I’m sure we’ll be all right.”

Source: BBCi

Galaxy insist they aren’t ‘rebuilding’
A look around a Los Angeles Galaxy training session these days doesn’t reveal many familiar faces. With the recent trade of Tyrone Marshall to Toronto FC, there are now only three players with the Galaxy that have been with the club for longer than two full seasons — midfielders Pete Vagenas and Cobi Jones and defender Chris Albright

Match Report: Estonia 0 - 3 England
Estonia 0 - 3 England
UEFA Euro 2008 Group E Qualifier

Estonia: Poom, Jaager, Stepanov, Kruglov, Klavan, Dmitrijev, Lindpere, Vassiljev, Konsa (Neemelo 46), Voskoboinikov, Terehhov (Kink 64).
Subs Not Used: Kotenko, Barengrub, Rooba, Leetma, Kams.

England: Robinson, Brown, Terry, King, Bridge, Beckham (Dyer 68), Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (Downing 75), Crouch, Owen (Jenas 88).
Subs Not Used: Carson, Carragher, Smith, Defoe.

Booked: Crouch.
Goals: Cole 37, Crouch 54, Owen 62.

Attendance: 11,000

Referee: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland).

Read the full match report along with match statistics and interviews on the BBCi website.