Injury doubt for Beckham ahead of Beijing match

A niggling hamstring injury could keep star attraction David Beckham out of Real Madrid's friendly against Beijing Hyundai on Saturday.

Beckham picked up the knock in Real Madrid's 2-0 win against Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday.

There were fears he would be forced out of Real's Asian tour altogether but he arrived in Beijing with the rest of the squad Wednesday.
 
Asked if he would play on Saturday, Beckham said the hamstring was still bothering him and he was not sure if he was fit enough.

"Don't know yet," he replied at a press conference with his teammates at the Great Hall of the People Thursday. "Still sore."

The England captain last came to China with Real Madrid two years ago, making his world debut for the club here after his move from Manchester United.

He said he was "very happy" to be back.

Former Real Madrid star Emilio Butragueno, now vice president and sporting director, said he hoped the current tour would be as successful as their last one.

"We hope, like two years ago, we would have the support of all the football fans and people in China," he said, through an interpreter.

The Spanish team will play another three matches in Bangkok and Tokyo after they leave China.

Like many European clubs, Real wants to do more to develop its name in China, seen as a vast untapped market.

It has previously said it was negotiating with CITIC, which owns Beijing Hyundai, on a collaboration agreement "to develop the Real Madrid brand in China".