JAPAN: FOOTBALL MEGASTAR DAVID BECKHAM ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MOVE TO REAL MADRID

Record ID: 190176

  • Title: JAPAN: FOOTBALL MEGASTAR DAVID BECKHAM ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MOVE TO REAL MADRID
  • Date: 19th June 2003
  • Summary: (W4) TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 19, 2003)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF FOOTBALL STAR DAVID BECKHAM AND VICTORIA BECKHAM LEAVING HOTEL FROM THE UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT/JAPANESE FANS TAKING PICTURES WITH MOBILE PHONES (6 SHOTS) 0.35 2. WIDE OF DAVID BECKHAM ENTERING ROOM FOR PRESS CONFERENCE 0.44 3. SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM SAYING: "I have not even discussed obviously with Real Madrid my position of where they want me to play. They have said they wanted me and I, of course, when given a chance to play with another great club, you know, it is an exciting time for me and that is all I am looking forward to." 1.14 4. SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM ANSWERING REPORTER'S QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE IS STILL DISAPPOINTED AT BEING USED AS A POLITICAL PAWN, SAYING: "No because I have joined a club which is a massive club, you know. If I was going to leave Manchester United at any time in my career, then to join a massive club like Real Madrid is a dream." 1.40 5. SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM, ASKED BY REPORTER ABOUT HIS VIEW OF MANCHESTER UNITED, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN REPORTED AS SAYING HE FELT HE WAS BEING TREATED LIKE A PIECE OF MEAT, SAYING: "I think things went on that, of course, I wouldn't have been happy about. But you know, when a club sort of (has) come to a decision on the money side of that, then, you know, it was my decision after that and you know for me it is a good decision." 2.14 6. SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM, ANSWERING REPORTER'S QUESTION AS TO WHETHER HIS REPRESENTATIVES WERE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES ON HIS FUTURE, SAYING: "That never went on." 2.21 7. SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM, ANSWERING QUESTION ABOUT HOW GOOD HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPANISH LANGUAGE IS, SAYING: "I know a few words, a few phrases, but I haven't started lessons yet but I know how to ask for the bill in a restaurant, so that will come in handy." 2.38 8. VARIOUS , SOUNDBITE (English) DAVID BECKHAM, ASKED TO CONFIRM THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPIER IF HIS DEPARTURE FROM OLD TRAFFORD HAD HAPPENED DIFFERENTLY, SAYING: "I think of course it could have been done a little bit differently but you know I don't think - I'm not stood here and I don't want to talk about you know that side of it now, because I am a Real Madrid player now and I am looking forward to it, I am looking forward to that." 3.02 9. WIDE OF BECKHAM WITH REPORTERS 3.10 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA7XH501WV0849KOSYDNUUHXOST
  • Story Text: Football megastar David Beckham, whose presence in
    Japan has set off a frenzy among media and fans alike, has
    said he is looking forward to his move to Real Madrid as an
    exciting challenge.



    The media circus surrounding soccer superstar David
    Beckham and his former pop star Victoria was in full swing on
    Thursday (June 19) at a central Tokyo hotel.

    Beckham, 28, and his wife, former Spice Girl band member
    Victoria, arrived in Japan on Wednesday to shrieks of
    excitement from hundreds of fans who packed Tokyo's Narita
    airport for a brief glimpse of their idol, waving banners and
    traditional Japanese carp flags.

    Intrepid fans, determined to catch a glimpse of Beckham,
    even crowded the underground garage of the hotel where the
    couple were attending a series of media events on Thursday.

    They were rewarded when the couple was escorted to a
    waiting car.

    Beckham later spoke for the first time about his move to
    Real Madrid, saying he was looking forward to the challenge.

    "It is an exciting time for me and that is all I am
    looking forward to", Beckham told reporters.

    The England captain agreed to join Real Madrid from
    Manchester United on Tuesday in a deal worth up to 35 million
    euros (41.06 million U.S. dollars).

    Beckham's four-year deal, confirmed to the Stock Exchange
    yesterday, ended months of speculation surrounding his future.

    He is expected to be officially unveiled as a Real Madrid
    player on July 2.

    Beckham declined openly to criticise Manchester United
    manager Alex Ferguson after the English champions announced
    last week they had agreed a conditional deal to sell the
    midfielder to Barcelona.

    "Of course it could have been done differently but ... I
    don't .... want to talk ....about that .... now," he shrugged.

    cr/jrc


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