- Title: JAPAN: DAVID BECKHAM INTERVIEW (SHORT VERSION).
- Date: 3rd August 2003
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 5, 2003) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) BECKHAM SAYING: "Man United are a massive club and Real Madrid are a massive club so the media interest is always gonna be a massive amount. Wherever we go, whoever we play, whoever Real Madrid buy, it's always going to be of interest to the media so thats always going to be there. Its not surprised me at all because big clubs always get a lot of big coverage and thats the way it is." SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) BECKHAM SAYING: "It doesn't bother me really. People have always asked me where I prefer to play and I've always said that I like playing on the right but I always would welcome a position in the middle but for me the way the game went the other night I wasn't playing as an out and out right-winger i was in the sort of inside right position which pleased me and that was fine because Luis has gone to the left and as you've seen the other night he was Man of the Match so switching positions has not bothered him in any sense. As long as I'm playing and I'm in the team you know thats good for me." WIDE OF INTERVIEW SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) BECKHAM SAYING: "I spoke to him a while ago just after I signed for Real and obviously he wished me good luck and said he's looking forward to seeing me and we've got the friendly coming up and I speak to him quite a bit so its a relationship that I like to have with anyone that I work with. (Are you going to be playing in that friendly??) As far as I know...there was talk of the manager Mr. Erikkson seeing how I was settling in and what was going on but I don't think its gonna be a problem I'm England captain so as long as I make the team I'll be there." BECKHAM'S HANDS SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) BECKHAM SAYING: "I think the first game went as well as it could have done - obviously we won 4-0 and our fitness levels were lifted as well by the way we played and obviously the first game so I was pleased with the way it went I think the players done a lot for me and helped me a lot because a new player coming in to a team thats played a lot of football together its hard sometimes but I think every one of the players helped me through it and played a lot of good football." WIDE OF INTERVIEW SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) BECKHAM SAYING: "I've spent a lot of time at Manchester United I've got alot of friends there, but that's in the past now and I'm a Real Madrid player and I'm fully committed 110-120% to Real Madrid, so if I come up against Man Utd. It'll be a nice nigt."
- Embargoed: 18th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: General,People,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4KYMHEUIU7LF4WVZCF5RLPK83
- Story Text: Real Madrid's latest signing David Beckham takes time out from his busy schedule for a one-on-one interview with Reuters Real Madrid's marquee summer signing - David Beckham - took time out from preparations for Tuesday's (August 5) exhibition game in Tokyo to talk to Reuters in a one-on-one interview.
"The players have sort of accepted me straight away which has been good for me because there is a time where I need to sit down and settle in and enjoy it but it seems to have happened straight away," Beckham said of his new team mates.
"For me I'm comfortable already in this team. I feel like I've been here for a few years already so that's important to me to feel as if I belong in this team and the players have made me feel like that so of course there was a lot of money spent but I feel that I'm a professional footballer and if I can perform well and do well then great and thats what I'm looking to do," he said.
"The stuff outside the football is great and its a great bonus to see the fans and the people that love to come and watch me personally and me as a Real Madrid player is a great honour but then when I'm on the pitch then I'm a professional and when I'm on the pitch nothing distracts me," said the star who Real bought for $40 million over the summer - a price tag they hope to recoup with Beckham's huge marketing clout in Asia where he is extremely popular.
"Man United are a massive club and Real Madrid are a massive club so the media interest is always gonna be a massive amount. Wherever we go, whoever we play, whoever Real Madrid buy its always going to be of interest to the media so thats always going to be there. It's not surprised me at all because big clubs always get a lot of big coverage and thats the way it is," he added.
David Beckham has been a Real Madrid player for just over a month but the England captain already feels like he has been at the club for years.
Beckham, who joined the Spanish champions for $40 million on July 2, has adapted so quickly he is already relishing the chance to meet former club Manchester United in the Champions League.
Beckham, who made his Real debut in a 4-0 win over a Chinese select team in Beijing at the weekend, said that former Liverpool player Steve McManaman and Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo have smoothed his transition.
A relaxed-looking Beckham insisted Real Madrid -- with a wealth of riches such as Figo, Ronaldo, Raul and Zinedine Zidane -- could cope with the extra pressure his move to the Bernabeu is bound to bring this season.
The man who launched a thousand mohicans in Japan during the 2002 World Cup has already broadened the appeal of Real Madrid in Asia, where Beckham-mania has exploded over the past year.
Beckham played in his usual position on the right of midfield against the Chinese select team, the first match of Real's pre-season tour of the Far East, with Real's regular right-sided midfielder, Figo, on the left.
The London0born Beckham, who inspired a three-metre high chocolate sculpture of himself on a promotional visit to Tokyo last December, may be committed to his new life in Spain but he still has no intention of missing England's friendly with Croatia on August 20. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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