Beckham’s Madrid deal a Real success

ON the second anniversary of the arrival of David Beckham at Real Madrid, his club can look back with satisfaction on a deal that has been a complete financial success.

Beckham’s presence has allowed Madrid to undertake two lucrative tours of the Far East and this summer will see them return, while adding possible US and Saudi Arabian dates to the agenda.

According to Marca newspaper, the England captain earns an estimated €34million (£22.5million) a year, with Madrid paying him €8million (£5.3million) a year in wages.

Those €8million for 2005 will have been already compensated by the end of the summer. This summer’s tour will net Madrid around €20million, a figure that would be cut by half without Beckham.

Beckham’s Real Madrid shirt still outsells any other Madrid replica shirt sold by the club, and in Asia three out of every five replica shirts sold has his name on the back.

The number of women watching football has also increased thanks to Beckham’s presence.