'Come and join us,' Beckham tells Vieira

David Beckham has urged Patrick Vieira to consider no other team than Real Madrid if he decides to leave Arsenal this summer.

Beckham became the sixth ‘Galactico’ on the books at the Bernabeu when he joined last summer, and now he wants Arsenal’s French international midfielder to make it a magnificent seven for Real.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is known to be keen on Vieira and has quizzed his international team-mate, Madrid superstar Zinedine Zidane, about the 28-year-old’s virtues.

“When a club wants to sign a player it is always the player who decides,” Beckham told club website www.realmadrid.com.

“Vieira is one of the best midfielders that exist. I admire him. If he decides to change team then let him come to Madrid.”

Beckham pointed out that, when Perez makes his move, he usually gets his man.

Speaking of his own move last year, Beckham said: “Real Madrid is a special club.

“When the president calls you, 99% of the time he gets the player he wants.

“It was a special moment for me. It (the transfer) went well for me even if I won nothing (last season).

“Playing in front of the Real fans and with these players is very special.”

He gave short shrift to any suggestion that he had been forced out of the door at Old Trafford by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

“There is no doubt that I came to Real Madrid because I wanted to,” said Beckham.

“I have no regrets. My first six months were the best of my whole life, but afterwards I had two (months) that were not and the rumours started that I wanted to go back to England.

“I have always said I wanted to stay.”

Beckham was dogged with rumours about his private life in the closing months of last season and his form dipped on the field too.

He admits he is getting fewer opportunities from free-kicks, with Zidane, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos all determined and well qualified to shoot from distance at set-pieces.

“In the past at Manchester I scored quite a lot of goals because I always took the free-kicks,” added the England captain.

“With Madrid there are many players like Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos. The solution is to practise more.”

On Sunday, Real will play Benfica at the Estadio da Luz – where Beckham missed penalties for England in Euro 2004 against France and Portugal.

“I had good and bad experiences,” said Beckham. “On Sunday, Luis Figo will take the penalties and not me.

“I have good memories of Portugal. They were very nice with us. I must forget the past quickly and look forward.

“I am looking forward to play in this team with the new players.”

Previously, when Beckham was made a pariah for his sending-off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, he bounced back by winning the treble of Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League with Manchester United.

Beckham hopes he can bounce back again from disappointment on the international stage by achieving similar results with Madrid.

He said: “I hope this year will be as good as 1999. The most important thing is that we play well and we are happy.

“Last year was disappointing because we won nothing and Madrid must always win. I hope we win three trophies.”