MADRID, 18 June 2003 — Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has agreed to join Real Madrid on a four-year deal after the clubs agreed a transfer fee of between 25 and 30 million euros, ($29.51 - $35.41), Radio Marca said on Tuesday.
Marca say the deal will be confirmed by Manchester United and Real Madrid later and that the England captain will be presented on July 2.
United would not comment on the story while Madrid officials were unavailable but his agent SFX told BBC Radio 5-Live that a deal is “imminent if not concluded”.
Last week United announced that they had agreed a conditional bid from Barcelona for Beckham but his agents said that he did not want to join the club.
English and Spanish media have been full of the story ever since, with speculation and denial competing for space.
Real, on the verge of winning the Spanish League title as compensation for their failure to retain their Champions League crown, emerged as favorites as interest from Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan waned.
Beckham, who said last week that he had never promised to see out his career at United, has made no other comment on the matter. He was traveling to Japan yesterday as part of a promotional tour of Asia for some of his sponsors.
Now 28, he has been at United since signing as a schoolboy and had two years remaining on a contract he signed a year ago.
Marca reported that he would be earning around 6 million euros ($7.08) per year plus bonuses and that he had an option for a further year on his contract.
Contrary to several media reports in both countries this week, the transfer will not include any exchange of players.
France Ready for Flying Start
in Confederations Cup
France will begin the defense of their Confederations Cup title against Colombia today determined not to repeat the mistakes of the last World Cup.
France’s failure to negotiate their opening match of the tournament in South Korea and Japan, losing 1-0 to the unfancied Senegal, heralded the start of a debacle which ended with a shock group stage exit for the holders.
Today’s game in Group A of the eight-nation tournament at the Stade Gerland should be a comfortable victory for the host nation, supported by the fans who carried them to World Cup success five years ago.
Colombia, the Copa America winners in 2001, have kept a clean sheet in their last three matches, thanks to a defense marshaled by Ivan Cordoba and Mario Yepes.
