Beckham's continuity at Real Madrid 'has bad look about it'

Jan 2, 2007, 11:06 GMT

Madrid - According to the digital version of sports daily AS on Tuesday, the continuity of David Beckham at Real Madrid 'has a bad look about it.'

AS has arrived at this conclusion after observing that Real are reluctant to give in to the request of Beckham's agents that all his image rights revert to the player.

In the contract that Beckham signed with Real in 2003 the Spanish giants insisted on sharing these image rights 50-50 with the player, a policy that then president Florentino Perez carried out with all his 'Galactico' stars.

Now Beckham's agents want to recuperate the totality of these image rights.

According to AS, this is the main obstacle to Beckham extending his contract at Real, a contract which expires in June.

Real president Ramon Calderon has offered Beckham a new two-year contract, until June 2009, in the same conditions as the previous one, with a salary of around six million euros per season.

Beckham appears reluctant to sign, not only because of the image rights dispute but also because coach Fabio Capello doesn't seem to have much faith in him - and because he has received several other offers, particularly from the United States.

From January 1 onwards, according to FIFA rules, Beckham can openly negotiate with other clubs, as he is now in the final six months of his Real contract.

Beckham, 31, has started just nine matches this season, with Capello keeping him mostly on the bench.

Real are trying to build a new young team, and have just spent almost 40 million euros on South American youngsters Marcelo, Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain.

Beckham is the only foreign player in Real's proud history not to have won a trophy in his time at the Bernabeu.

According to AS, Real are planning to hold an 'almost decisive' meeting with Beckham and his agents in the middle of January.