Capello willing to bend on Beckham’s Real role

REAL MADRID coach, Fabio Capello, has hinted that David Beckham’s career at the club could yet be revived.

Capello announced on Saturday that Beckham would no longer feature in his plans following the former England captain’s decision to join MLS side, the LA Galaxy, in the summer.

But speaking before tonight’s Copa del Rey second leg against Real Betis, the suggestion from Capello was that the decision was not irreversible.

Beckham was not part of a 16-man squad selected for the Betis match, but when Capello was asked if the midfielder could play a similar role to that of Henrik Larsson at Barcelona last season, the coach admitted it was possible.

Larsson also announced early last year he was leaving Barca at the end of the campaign to join Helsingborg, but still played a key part as the Catalan giants won the Champions League and Primera Liga double.

“Nothing can be discarded. We have to see. The idea that we have now is the one that you know,” said Capello, although he added: “It is necessary to be flexible sometimes.”

Capello was asked if he might change his opinion with regards to Beckham, to which the coach said: “Beckham is a great professional who always trains with a great desire. Ideas can be changed.”

Meanwhile, Madrid president, Ramon Calderon, has apologised for the controversial comments he made about Beckham during a student conference yesterday.

In remarks reported by radio station Cadena Cope, Calderon criticised several Real players, including Beckham, whom he said “will be an average cinema actor living in Hollywood.”

Calderon also claimed the former England captain only decided to move to the LA Galaxy because no other team wanted him.

The president issued a statement regarding his comments, saying: “I want to apologise a thousand times to anyone that might have been offended.”

According to sports lawyer, Mel Goldberg, Beckham would have a strong legal claim for loss of image rights if Capello refuses to pick him on non-footballing grounds.

If he continues to be overlooked for reasons other than football, Beckham could build a legal case. Said Goldberg: “If they say, ‘We’re never going to pick him even if he’s the best player at the club,’ then they won’t sell a single David Beckham shirt between now and summer.

“Shirt sales will of course go down, but they can be a significant income. People may buy one as a souvenir if he is playing, but not if he’s left out of the side.”