Real Madrid look to get back to basics

As their worst season in five years draws to a close Real Madrid have effectively ditched their "galactico" recruitment policy.

The decision to sign Argentine international defender Walter Samuel, the imminent appointment of former player Jose Antonio Camacho as coach and David Beckham's announcement of his long-term commitment to living in Madrid are indications of a change in policy at the club.

Samuel is precisely the sort of accomplished, but unglamorous professional that the club have eschewed in recent seasons, preferring instead to make only high-impact big-name signings that have failed to meet the footballing needs of the team.

The rest of the squad was to be supplied by former youth team players who would cost the club nothing and be paid a tiny fraction of the salary of the leading stars.

But the policy has backfired in spectacular fashion this year with Real self-destructing in the run-in to the end of the season.

The club had released some of the brightest young prospects at the start of the season and those that remained were clearly not up to scratch while the "galacticos" were simply burned out by the relentless schedule of domestic and European fixtures.

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano admitted as much to reporters on Friday when he discussed the importance of the Samuel signing.

"From now on we are now going to construct a more balanced team," he said. "We'll have a stronger, broader squad which will allow us to cope with all the competitions in which we are involved."

Coach Carlos Queiroz warned of the potential problem at the start of the season, but he is now almost certain to be used as the scapegoat for the team's failure to win a major trophy for the first time in five years.

With one eye on the forthcoming elections, club president Florentino Perez is set to appoint former Spain coach and fans' favourite Jose Antonio Camacho to take over the side.

Camacho, who has managed Benfica for the last two seasons, did his best to avoid any comment when he was asked if he would take charge at Real next week.

"If I said yes I would look as if I was trying to take the job of a colleague," Camacho said on Thursday. "But if I said no it would look like I didn't want the job. We'll just have to see what happens on Monday."

Camacho is in a strong bargaining position and will get the sort of balanced squad that Queiroz was denied.

The fact that Beckham has nailed his colours to the mast by assuring that his future lies in Madrid and that he will be joined in the Spanish capital by wife Victoria and two children is another sign of the club's back-to-basics policy.

The England captain's petulant sending-off for insulting a linesman during last week's match against relegated Murcia brought thinly veiled warnings from the club via the Spanish media that he would have to watch his step.

Beckham's image has already been severely dented by the media storm surrounding his off-the-field problems and Real are anxious for the former Manchester United midfielder to make a commitment to the club rather than jetting back to England at every opportunity.

But while Real are planning for next season, they still have plenty to play for in their final match at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday.

After a worst-ever run of four league defeats in a row Real dropped to third in the standings, two points behind arch-rivals Barcelona, and are now likely to have to play a qualifier in August if they want to make next season's Champions League.

Real, who will be without the suspended Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, must beat Sociedad at the Bernabeu and hope that Barca lose to Real Zaragoza if they are to salvage their pre-season tour to Asia and give their players a chance to make a full recovery from Euro 2004.

Barca, though, have lost just one of their last 19 league matches and are unlikely to let the opportunity of getting one over Real slip through their fingers.

Both teams will surely be casting an envious glance Valencia's way.

Rafa Benitez's side can afford to let their hair down in their final match at home to Albacete as they celebrate their league title and UEFA Cup triumph in front of their fans at the Mestalla.

Villarreal, who fell victim to Valencia in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, will have another shot at European glory if they beat relegation candidates Valladolid to join Athletic Bilbao in next season's competition.

If Luis Fernandez's Espanyol can win their game at home to relegated Murcia they will remain in the top flight and condemn Valladolid and Celta Vigo to life in the second division.