Barca to pull out of Becks deal unless weekend deadline is met

Barcelona will pull out of their bid to sign David Beckham unless they get a positive response from the England captain by the weekend.

The Spanish giants have agreed a deal with Manchester United to buy Beckham.

But the player has so far distanced himself from the deal and has not yet held any discussions with new Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Laporta came to power on his pledge to bring Beckham to the Nou Camp, but the deal will be called off unless talks begin with the £30m (€42.7m)-rated midfielder.

Speaking this morning, Juan Jose Castillo, Laporta’s press secretary, said plans were underway to arrange a meeting of Barcelona officials and Beckham or his advisors.

Castillo said: “I couldn’t say where the meeting was going to be but there’ll be a meeting of representatives. We have to resolve the Beckham situation this week. We can’t let it go on any longer.

“We are waiting for some sign from Beckham. We will speak very soon, hopefully today or tomorrow, with either his representative or himself and I think it will be with Beckham.”

Barcelona are expected to comment further on the issue at a press conference this lunchtime, due to begin at noon (11am Irish time) in the Nou Camp.