Real Madrid have won the race to sign David Beckham in a £17 million-plus deal, Spanish media reported tonight.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said today he was still hopeful that Beckham will become a Barcelona player and stated the England captain would take on a big leadership role at the club if he joined.

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy is out of tomorrow’s Champions League qualifier against Partizan Belgrade after being sent to see a specialist about his injured knee.

David Beckham is expected to make a brief return to action tomorrow when his promotional road show hits Kuala Lumpur.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has ended any possibility of Javier Sanchez Broto returning to Parkhead.

Celtic face an anxious wait this morning to find out how serious Stanislav Varga’s injury is after he was stretchered off during last night’s friendly against Fulham.

Sammy McIlroy has told his Northern Ireland team to tough it out when they face Ukraine on Saturday in a Euro 2004 qualifier.

Roy Keane has attacked Ronaldinho's decision to snub a big-money move to Old Trafford this summer.

Michael Owen’s 10th goal of the season gave Barclaycard Premiership leaders Liverpool the advantage after the first 45 minutes against West Ham at Anfield today.

Three girls braved the cold and wet conditions to be the first in the queue to meet soccer hero Roy Keane at Eason’s Cork today.

Midfielder Rory Delap could return to the Southampton side for Wednesday’s Worthington Cup third round tie at Liverpool.

Robbie Keane is hoping Teddy Sheringham will help him continue to mature into one of the world’s top strikers.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has leapt to the defence of England skipper David Beckham following criticism of his two-footed lunge on Slovakia defender Martin Petras during Saturday’s European Championship qualifier in Bratislava.

Football legend George Best is to speak publicly for the first time since his life-saving liver transplant in an interview with the BBC reported to be worth £40,000 (€63,560), it emerged today.

Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann is out of tomorrow night’s Premiership trip to Leeds with an ankle injury.

Venables made a double substitution at the break with Eirik Bakke on for Nick Barmby, forced out with a back problem, while Lucas Radebe replaced Dominic Matteo at the back due to a recurrence of the Leeds captain's knee injury.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley could give Jesper Blomqvist his first start in tomorrow‘s Worthington Cup tie with Oxford.

David Beckham has equalised after 70 minutes with a brilliant free kick at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo has completed his hat-trick for Real Madrid with a brilliant strike after 59 minutes.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has once again insisted he has no intention of walking out on his position as England coach.