SPAIN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - David Beckham left out of Real Madrid squad for Sunday's match against Levante

Record ID: 566863

  • Title: SPAIN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - David Beckham left out of Real Madrid squad for Sunday's match against Levante
  • Date: 4th February 2007
  • Summary: (BN12) MADRID, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 3, 2007) (REUTERS) FABIO CAPELLO, REAL MADRID COACH, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FABIO CAPELLO, REAL MADRID COACH, ASKED ABOUT DAVID BECKHAM, SAYING: "Yes, I had doubts." JOURNALIST ASKS: AND WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND? CAPELLO SAYS: "Because, so far he doesn't fit in the line up that we are
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA80KEEAIXSWJMALYR39CT5C7FI
  • Story Text: David Beckham was left out of the Real Madrid squad to play Levante in the Primera Liga, the fourth consecutive time he has not been picked by coach Fabio Capello, who announced the lineup on Saturday (February 3).
    "Beckham has trained well up to today when he suffered a strong blow to his leg. So we continue with the same policy," Capello told a news conference, but went on to say the incident had nothing to do with Beckham being left out.
    Beckham has only started five league games this season and has not been selected since the 2-0 defeat away to Deportivo Coruna on January 7.
    After he announced his decision last month to join Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season Capello said he would not pick the player again for the remaining six months of his contract.
    He has since softened his stance saying the player could return if he was fit and showed the right attitude. Beckham had been unavailable for the last couple of games due to minor injuries.
    Asked about Brazilian striker Ronaldo's departure from Real to Milan and his recent comments about his dislike for Real's Italian coach, Capello gave the player his best wishes.
    "To Mr. Ronaldo I wish maximum success..... I hope, for the sake of world soccer that he goes back to be Ronaldo."
    Capello was asked for his reaction to the soccer violence in Sicily which left a policeman dead on Friday night.
    "I saw the images and I felt ashamed, I think that it is impossible to see worse things on television. As an Italian I feel ashamed because soccer is a sport and that doesn't have anything to do with sports," he said, adding that tough measures had to be taken by the Italian authorities.
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