‘I’m happy at Real’

DAVID BECKHAM pledged his long-term commitment to Real Madrid yesterday and revealed how he had been touched by the public reaction to last week’s deadly bomb attacks.

Rather than driving the England captain out of Spain and back to the Premiership, where he continues to be linked to Chelsea, Beckham has confirmed his determination to stay with Madrid.

“When speculation starts, it continues,” said Beckham, who joined Real Madrid from Manchester United last summer.

“But as I said, I’m happy at Real Madrid, I want to stay at Real Madrid, and that’s the end of that.”

Speaking of the Madrid bombings, Beckham said: “When things like that happen it brings countries and people together whatever their nationality”.

“I’m English and living in Spain, but everyone has become united whatever their nationality.”

Beckham could collect his first major medal in a Madrid shirt tomorrow night when the team bid for the first leg of a potential treble.

They take on Real Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey final, which is to be staged at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, and Beckham is eager to get his hands on the trophy.

Madrid could only draw 1-1 with Zaragoza in the league on Saturday, however, which was not the result they were seeking in the dress rehearsal for this week’s final.

Madrid are leaders of the Primera Liga, in which they have a four-point cushion over Valencia, and they are also through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

For Beckham, who picked up his first medal for Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa at the start of the season, the prospect of winning a big prize such as the Copa del Rey is one which he is keen to grasp. “It would mean a lot,” he said.