Laporta confident of persuading Beckham to move to Barcelona

BARCELONA presidential candidate Joan Laporta is confident he can convince David Beckham to move to the Nou Camp if given the chance to talk to the England captain.

Laporta and Manchester United are understood to have a £30 million deal in place for Beckham should the Catalan lawyer win Sunday’s elections.

Beckham’s representatives, SFX, yesterday moved swiftly to counter a statement from United claiming they would accept an offer from Barcelona if Laporta proves successful.

However, SFX made it clear Beckham felt he was being used as a “political pawn” in the elections and revealed there were no plans to meet Laporta or his representatives.Laporta, though, feels that, once he enters into negotiations with Beckham and SFX, then the ongoing saga which has dominated the sporting headlines will quickly be brought to a conclusion.

Barcelona’s bitter rivals, Real Madrid, are rumoured to be interested in Beckham, who is due to return from holiday in America tomorrow.

If Madrid’s interest is genuine, then it is hard to imagine Beckham wanting to join Barcelona, no matter how persuasive an argument Laporta could offer.

With Real already guaranteed Champions League football for next season, while Barca can only offer the Intertoto Cup and the UEFA Cup at best, Beckham would be advised to link up with Zinedine Zidane et al at the Bernabeu as it appears hisOld Trafford days are numbered.Laporta, who has closed the gap on nearest rival Lluis Basset in the polls from 40% to 3% since the start of the month due to his interest in Beckham, feels he is firmly in the driving seat: “We have a deal with Manchester United, on condition that I win the presidential elections, but we have to get a deal with the player.”

For a club more than £30 million in debt, financing the deal is apparently not a problem for Laporta, who would appear to be more interested in Beckham the marketing machine than Beckham the player.

Laporta is clearly unhappy Real have seemingly entered the race, although it could all be a smokescreen designed to unhinge his presidential campaign with just four days to go before the result is announced. Laporta has suggested Real have broken the rules, particularly after his own efforts in initially securing a deal with United.

“It has been very difficult, but we have done it and it is a win-win situation for Manchester United and for Barcelona,” expressed a smiling Laporta. “We have followed FIFA’s rules. That means we have had to arrange a deal with the club because David Beckham has a contract with Manchester United, so we have gone the correct way to get the deal.

“I am sure a club like Real Madrid, who are our rivals and competitor, understand they have to follow the rules.

“But because we have been able to move faster, and we are very proud we have a deal with Manchester United, we are confident we can arrange a deal with the player, and that this great player will come to Barcelona.”