Barca stunned by Beckham bombshell

Barcelona admit they are stunned by the news arch-rivals Real Madrid have pipped them in the race to sign David Beckham but will instead turn their attentions to Manchester United target Ronaldinho.

Newly-installed Barca president Joan Laporta built his election campaign on bringing Beckham to the Nou Camp but the England captain has decided his future lies in a different part of Spain.

It was confirmed on Tuesday evening that the Manchester United midfielder had agreed a four-year deal with Real Madrid worth around £25million to the Premiership champions.

Despite their disappointment though, Barcelona quickly insisted they would turn their attentions elsewhere and revealed that they were closing in on Paris St Germain star Ronaldinho, a transfer target of both Real Madrid and Manchester United.

“We have read the news that David Beckham has gone to Real Madrid and it has come like a great bomb for us, it is a big shock,” Barcelona press officer Juanjo Castillo told PA International.

“I feel disappointed, we felt this morning that we were very close to talks with Beckham.”

Castillo did point out that Barca have other irons in the fire and admitted that talks with Ronaldinho were at an advanced stage.

“We are not going to say that we do not mind if Beckham does not come here, we would not have tried so hard if we did, but it is not the end for Barcelona, he was a piece of the great work that we are doing here.

“If he has decided to go somewhere else then we will work to bring in other players of similar importance as Beckham,” he said.

“It is no secret that Ronaldinho is one of the players we are looking at, he has always been on our list as have other top players, a deal is very close with Ronaldinho.”

President Laporta echoed Castillo’s comments and urged the club’s supporters not to lose heart,

“We have other options aside from Beckham. We were unable to get an agreement (with his representatives) but the members need not worry because we have other options,” he told Spanish television programme Antena 3.