Cruyff backs Barca move for Beckham

JOAN LAPORTA is facing fierce criticism from rival candidates over his bid to sign David Beckham but former Barcelona player and coach Johan Cruyff has given his support to the proposed transfer.

“It’s a good move,” said Cruyff. “In terms of promotion, Beckham sells more than any other player in the world. There is no doubt about his quality and he could put Barcelona back where they want to be.”

Laporta has an agreement to sign Beckham from United provided he wins tomorrow’s presidential election and can then persuade the England captain to go to Barca.

Cruyff, still an influential figure at the club he played for with style and coached with great success, came close to endorsing Laporta ahead of his chief rival Lluis Bassat yesterday.

“I get on well with Bassat and very well with Laporta,” said Cruyff. “The club needs a radical change and it’s true that Laporta wants to change everything.”

Laporta started the campaign as an outsider but the Beckham deal has seen a surge in support and he is now a point ahead of Bassat in the latest opinion poll.

Bassat believes Laporta is tricking the voters with his use of Beckham, whose advisers have already made it clear he is not considering a Barcelona move.

Other presidential candidates have said the move for Beckham is more about business than addressing the needs of the team and one candidate described the midfielder as “too expensive“.

Spanish and English newspapers, meanwhile, are convinced Real Madrid will come up with a counter-offer that Beckham would be more likely to accept.