Madrid chief believes Becks will stay

Real Madrid’s director of football Jorge Valdano is confident that David Beckham will remain at the Bernabeu next season.

Speculation has been rife over the England captain’s future in recent weeks, with Chelsea and Arsenal linked with a move for the former Manchester United star.

However, Valdano is reported to have met Beckham at a funeral last week and told The Observer: “Nothing has changed. I have spoken to him and he is calm.”

That view is backed up by comments from the midfielder’s personal assistant Terry Byrne.

He told The People: “Unless Real want to sell him, he’s staying. The truth is, we don’t know where the stories about him leaving are coming from, but it’s not us. Real told me they don’t want to sell him.

“The situation remains the same because we always said we would review the situation after two years and he hasn’t even finished his first season. He’s happy in Madrid and he’s staying.

“Obviously we have talked about what would happen if he came home but there are only a few clubs he could go to.

“We will sit down with Real at the end of the season and discuss his future, but the bottom line is that David loves playing for Real Madrid.”