Beckham Is Staying Put
Monday, March 15, 2004

DAVID Beckham is happy at Real Madrid and is not looking for a move back to the English Premiership despite speculation linking him with Chelsea, it was claimed yesterday.

"This is my first year and the first six months have gone so well I am not looking to move," he said. "I’m happy. I’m playing great football, everyone can see how much I am enjoying my football. Why leave?

"I will be a Real player next season."

Beckham joined his team mates in wearing black armbands as Real dropped points at the Bernabeu for only the second time this season with a 1-1 draw against Real Zaragoza on Saturday, in a game overshadowed by the bomb attacks in the city.

The teams meet again in the King’s Cup final on March 17 as Real chase three trophies, including the league title and the Champions League. Victory in all three will emulate the treble Beckham achieved with former club Manchester United in 1999.

The nine-times European champions are top of La Liga and in the Champions League quarter-finals where they have to beat Monaco to reach a semi-final against either Arsenal or Chelsea.

Regarding talk of a move to Stamford Bridge, the England captain said: "I can categorically deny I’ve had any meetings with (owner) Roman Abramovich, any official from Chelsea, or any other club to discuss a move back to England.

"Chelsea know as well as everyone else that I am a Real Madrid player. I signed a four-year contract," added Beckham, who joined the Spanish champions from their English counterparts Manchester United for £24.5million in 2003.

The only concern Beckham has about life in Madrid is the attention his family receives from the paparazzi.

"I’m not left alone for five minutes every time I step out of my front door. But that is the only thing that affects me over here."

AC Milan remain on course for their 17th Italian League title, after beating reigning champions Juventus 3-1.

Clarence Seedorf made their opener for Andriy Shevchenko, then scored two second half goals as AC moved seven points clear of AS Roma, whose title challenge had earlier been dealt a heavy blow as they could only draw 0-0 with relegation-threatened Reggina.

Roma’s city rivals Lazio held on to fourth place with a lively 2-2 draw against Udinese.

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