A report in the Mail on Sunday claims a deal between us and Real is virtually sealed, quoting "a top-level source" as saying: "Everyone here is desperately trying to keep it under wraps until the season has completed."
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the stories linking Beckham to Real are timed to coincide with the Champions' League quarter-final between the clubs. A club spokesman insisted: "This story is categorically untrue."
The independent reckon Beckham's value to Real would be as much for his huge commercial muscle, especially in the Far East, as for his talent on the field. The Madrid giants are keen to upstage United in the global marketing and merchandising battle. In recent years Real have always got their man with Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo recruited.
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