Figo Staying Even If Beckham Joins Real

Winger Luis Figo is in no danger of being put on the Real Madrid transfer list, even if David Beckham confirms rumours and joins the Spanish side.

Speculation linking the Manchester United midfielder with a move to the Bernabeu has cast a doubt over Figo`s future at Real, but Real president Florentino Perez insists the Portuguese international will stay.

"Luis Figo will complete his contract with Real Madrid, without any doubt. Even if there is a future signing, he will remain a Real player," Perez told Catalan television station TV3.

Figo`s contract does not expire until June 30 2006 and although he has not had the best of seasons at Madrid, his place in the team is safe.

"Beckham is a star but his position is already taken," Perez maintained.

The Real president will not confirm which players are being chased, but he does believe that the 27-year-old England captain has a number of stand-out qualities.

"As Valdano said, Beckham has many characteristics of a star player but we will not talk about signings until the end of the season," he added, explaining that his club are still aiming to continue their policy of signing big names and then incorporating them with younger players in the first team.

Figo joined Real in a controversial move from arch-rivals Barcelona in the summer of 2000 and French star Zinedine Zidane joined the following summer from Italian giants Juventus.

But it was Ronaldo`s move from Inter Milan last August, estimated at £29.8million, which grabbed the media attention.

"These acquisitions do not cause financial problems because great players bring money to the club," Perez said. "Madrid is going to double its ordinary revenue and the signing of these players plays a great part in it."