David Beckham is back in the reckoning at Real Madrid after
Fabio Capello reversed his decision to sideline the former England
captain and included him in the squad for Saturday's league match
at Real Sociedad.
Capello said Beckham's continued professionalism had persuaded
him to backtrack on his pledge that the midfielder would never
again play for Real following his announcement that he would be
joining LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
"We had doubts after he signed such an important contract with
the American side," Capello told a news conference at Real's
training base in Valdebebas.
"We doubted he could train with the same enthusiasm after that,
but he has been training perfectly. He has always had the full
support of his team mates. He has behaved like a great professional
and is now returning to the squad.
"I'm counting on him until the end of the season."
Capello, whose position is under threat after back-to-back
defeats in the league, said that the decision was his own and that
he had not been pressured by either the players or the club's
directors.
"It was down to Beckham's hard work and attitude. The
intelligent thing to do is to correct things when mistakes are
made. I spoke with him a week ago and again today. We are very
happy and he is too."
Club captain Raul, midfielder Guti and several other first team
players had come out in support of Beckham in recent weeks saying
he should continue playing until the end of his contract.
Beckham was embraced by several team mates including Raul after
being given the news of his inclusion in the squad.
The 31-year-old midfielder said earlier this week he was
desperate to play for Real again. "It is very hard for me because I
would like to help the team," he told sports daily Marca.
"I'm desperate to play again ... I don't know if I will but I've
got to keep on training. I want to leave this club on a high."
Spanish media have pointed to the fact that other players such
as Barcelona's Javier Saviola and Valencia's Roberto Ayala, whose
contracts also terminate at the end of the season, are still
playing for their respective clubs.
Beckham's last appearance for Real was when he came on as a
substitute in their 2-0 defeat at Deportivo Coruna on January 7 a
few days before announcing he had signed a five-year deal with LA
Galaxy worth $250 million (128 million pounds).
(China Daily via Reuters February 12, 2007)