Beckham Saga Still Running as Barcelona Vote Nears
Barcelona's six presidential candidates stayed silent on the eve of Sunday's election but David Beckham continued to dominate the soccer agenda throughout Spain.
Barcelona's six presidential candidates stayed silent on the eve of Sunday's election but David Beckham continued to dominate the soccer agenda throughout Spain.
Joan Laporta is the new favorite to win the vote of up to 95,000 Barcelona members after securing an agreement with Manchester United to sign Beckham, provided he gets elected and can persuade the England captain to come.
The six presidential hopefuls were prevented from any further campaigning Saturday -- a so-called day of reflection -- but the fall-out from the final televised debate late on Friday gave the voters plenty to chew on.
Lluis Bassat, who held a huge lead in the polls before the Beckham news broke, is challenging Laporta to produce a signed agreement with the popular midfielder or withdraw his claim to be able to seal the deal.
"We can't cheat Barcelona members," Bassat said. "What happens if Laporta wins and Monday it's confirmed that Beckham's not coming? Will he hand the votes back?"
Jaume Llaurado, third favorite in the latest survey, claimed that Beckham had already sign a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid and would in no circumstances be moving to Barcelona.
"He's already looking for a house and a school for the children," Llaurado said.
Laporta responded by saying he was not promising anything he could not deliver.
"We have the agreement with Manchester United and it's up to us to try to convince Beckham to come," Laporta said. "We'll give it everything to get him here but if it's not possible we have other options."
In the Spanish capital, rumors continued to circulate about an imminent Real Madrid counter-bid for Beckham -- much to the annoyance of the club's players.
Real are engaged in a tense battle for the league title and a slip-up against Atletico Madrid Sunday could see their last hope of a major trophy this season disappear.
"No one in the dressing room is thinking about Beckham," striker Raul said. "We have to keep concentrating on Sunday's game."
Whatever Raul's opinion, it looks like at least two Real Madrid players will be following the Barcelona election and the Beckham situation closely.
Intriguingly, Llaurado claims to have a deal with an as yet unnamed member of the Real Madrid first team to join Barcelona should he become elected.
Iker Casillas and Javier Portillo have been named in rival newspapers as the likely player but no one as owned up to such an agreement.
Meanwhile, Spanish international midfielder Guti, who finds it hard enough to get into the Real Madrid team as it is, told Spanish radio that a Beckham move to the Bernabeu would be the final straw.
"I'm at a point in my life where I need to play," Guti told TeleMadrid radio. "If Beckham came I'd have to be realistic and think that there wouldn't be many chances for me."
While most newspapers in Spain and England seem convinced that Real Madrid would be a more suitable destination for Beckham, Marca reported Saturday that the player's national team coach was offering different advice.
"Sven-Goran Eriksson has advised Beckham to choose Barcelona over Real Madrid," Marca said on the day Beckham arrived back in England from Los Angeles.
"The England coach, a personal friend of the Manchester United player, believes Barcelona would be a better bet for the player and his family."