Real Madrid set to extend Beckham contract until 2009

Jul 13, 2006, 12:25 GMT

Madrid - New Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is keen to extend the contract of David Beckham until 2009, according to sports daily As on Thursday.

The present contract of Beckham, 31, expires in June 2007. The former England captain has frequently expressed his wish to remain at the Bernabeu, despite not having won a single trophy so far with the whites since his 2003 arrival.

Beckham now has the dubious distinction of being the only foreign player in Real Madrid history to not win either the Spanish league or the Champions Cup within the space of three years.

It appears that new coach Fabio Capello is not very keen on the Englishman and will probably relegate him to the bench, despite the improbability of Cristiano Ronaldo now coming to Madrid.

The Real fans remain divided about Beckham. An online poll taken by As on Thursday shows that 47 per cent of 'madridistas' would prefer the club to sell him.

Beckham, though, remains Real's principle merchandising attraction, accounting for almost half of the club's worldwide shirt sales.

The contract extension is to be negotiated between Calderon and Terry Byrne and Simon Fuller, Beckham's representatives.