Barca better off without Beckham, says Laporta

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta yesterday claimed that he is relieved at having failed to sign David Beckham from Manchester United.

Laporta promised to buy the England captain if he was elected as the head of the Catalan club during a stormy presidential campaign in June.

But he lost out to arch rivals Real Madrid, who paid more than 36 million for the 28-year-old.