JAPAN: SOCCER - DAVID BECKHAM PRESS CONFERENCE IN A TOKYO HOTEL ON HIS MOVE TO REAL MADRID FOOTBALL CLUB / FANS AND MEDIA FRENZY.

Record ID: 190203

  • Title: JAPAN: SOCCER - DAVID BECKHAM PRESS CONFERENCE IN A TOKYO HOTEL ON HIS MOVE TO REAL MADRID FOOTBALL CLUB / FANS AND MEDIA FRENZY.
  • Date: 19th January 2003
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 19, 2003)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF DAVID BECKHAM AND VICTORIA BECKHAM (IN PINK) LEAVING THE HOTEL FROM THE UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT/JAPANESE FANS TAKING PICTURES WITH MOBILE PHONES 2. CROWDS OF JOURNALISTS MILLING AROUND THE CONFERENCE ROOM 3. BAG OF GIFTS FOR JOURNALISTS WITH A PICTURE OF DAVID BECKHAM
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ZTRLYSU2BYOO5X53OBREMEFZ
  • Story Text: David Beckham apologised to his new Real Madrid team
    mates for creating a media frenzy in the Spanish title run-in
    and said he had been promised his switch from Manchester
    United would not affect his England career.



    "To join a massive club like Real Madrid is a dream,"
    the England captain told reporters on Thursday.

    "I want to apologise to the (Real) players because all
    this is not caused by me. I don't want to distract them ...

    they're fighting to win the league and I didn't want to upset
    that."
    Beckham agreed to join Real from Manchester United on
    Tuesday in a deal worth up to 35 million euros ($41 million).

    Beckham said he would have had second thoughts if his move had
    put his England place at risk.

    "I wouldn't have done it if it would have affected my
    England career," said the 28-year-old, on a promotional tour
    in Japan with pop-star wife Victoria.

    "I have spoken to Mr (England manager Sven-Goran) Eriksson
    about it all because I think he's an important part of my
    career and ... he just said to me 'Whatever you do, it doesn't
    matter what club you play for, it doesn't affect you being
    England captain."
    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.

    "Real said they wanted me and it is a chance to play with
    a great club, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited
    to become part of Real Madrid."
    Beckham insisted he did not care that he could not wear
    his trademark number seven shirt at his new club. Spain
    striker Raul currently wears that number.

    "I don't even think of taking that off Raul. For me, he is
    the king of Real Madrid," said Beckham.

    "Whatever number they give me I will be happy. I have not
    even discussed with Real Madrid where they want me to
    play...but it is going to be a good challenge for me, on the
    field and off it."
    Beckham and his wife arrived in Japan amid a swirl of
    publicity on Wednesday for the start of an Asian promotional
    tour. They were welcomed in Tokyo by hundreds of screaming
    fans.

    It was his first trip to the country since last year's
    World Cup.

    Earlier in the day the international media were excluded
    from a press conference organised by one of Beckham's
    Japanese sponsors. Fans outside the hotel where it was being
    held even got excited when lookalike Paul Mansley tried to
    grab a piece of the action.




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