Calderon puzzled by Beckham omission

12 April 2012

David Beckham should still be in the England team, according to his club's president Ramon Calderon.

The Real Madrid supremo is hoping to commit the 31-year-old to a further two years at the Bernabeu before the end of this month and insists he would pick Beckham were he England manager.

"It seems hard to accept that he is not there," Calderon said of Beckham's exclusion from every squad since Steve McClaren took charge. "I guess that the coach is one very qualified coach."

"I'd always have in my team David Beckham for England. If I were the English coach, of course I'd call David Beckham, definitely."

Ironically, the former England skipper is not even guaranteed his place in the Real side at present after starting the last four games on the bench.

His contract expires this summer and Calderon refused to rule out Beckham being forced to take a pay cut were he to sign a new deal.

Calderon, elected Bernabeu president in the summer, believes the midfielder will retire in two years but hopes he will see out his career in the Spanish capital.

"As far as I know, he has decided to retire in two years' time," Calderon told BBC Radio Five Live. "For us, it would be fantastic if he can stay with us for the next two years. We hope everything will be all right in the next 15, 20 days to sign a new contract.

"It's very important from both sides - not only the commercial, which is what people normally say. He is a very, very good player. He is playing very well, supporters like him and me as a chairman would like to have him for two years at least.

"Many sponsors and companies want to have Beckham with them - but if he wasn't a very good player they couldn't be doing what he's doing in the commercial line."

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