Real's reticence forced Beckham to move to LA

David Beckham said on Thursday that Real Madrid's failure to make him a contract renewal offer was behind his decision to leave the nine-times European champions and sign for MLS side LA Galaxy.

"I first realised I would be leaving Real Madrid six months ago in January when I was told my contract wouldn't be renewed," the 32-year-old former England captain told a news conference before his final game for the Primera Liga club on Sunday.

"That was the time when I knew I had to decide my future. Leaving a club like Real Madrid is very difficult but I think my future is bright and it's something I'm really looking forward to now."

Real have said they were in the process of offering Beckham a new contract when he decided to sign his $250 million deal with Galaxy, but the former Manchester United midfielder said the offer had never materialised.

Beckham also said that, contrary to club president Ramon Calderon's recent statements, he had not been approached by Real to persuade him to stay and denied there was an escape clause by which he could back out of the Galaxy deal.

"I've had no contact with the president about anything," he said. "The contract was signed a few months back, everyone knows when I signed it. My last game will be on Sunday."

"There is no clause with Los Angeles saying it could be changed. I've played for Real Madrid for four years. It has been an incredible time. Hopefully, it will end with winning the league. But this is it."

A somewhat nervous-looking and red faced Beckham, who will win his first title with Real if they beat Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Sunday, refrained from direct criticism of the club.

But he made it clear he believed that his lack of games in the first part of the season and the decision to ostracise him after the announcement of his departure to LA were based on club politics rather than his performances on the pitch.

"I definitely agree that there was more to it than the manager, but I'm not going to criticise Fabio Capello because I have too much respect for him as a person and as a manager."

"It was a difficult time and there were many other things going on around the club related to my position other than what was going on the football pitch."

Beckham said this season was even harder to cope with than the aftermath of his sending off for England in the 1998 World Cup after kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone.

"It has been possibly the toughest season of my career on and off the field," he said. "After 1998 it was difficult, but this season I've gone through things that I never thought were possible."

"I'm sad to be leaving, I didn't expect to be leaving, but everyone knows what has happened in the last six months. It was the most difficult time of my career, not being involved in training and matches and certain things being said that weren't true."

But the midfielder said he was not interested in recriminations and wanted instead to concentrate on trying to win his first trophy since joining the club in 2003.

"The most important thing is the game on Sunday, what has gone on before doesn't matter now."

"It is a big opportunity for me to win a trophy. That is what I came to the club for, not just to play with the likes of Raul, Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Roberto Carlos and everybody else, but to win trophies and hopefully we can do that on Sunday."