We want Beckham to stay, says Real president

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said on Sunday that the Spanish giant's were going to explore ways of trying to keep former England captain David Beckham at the club.

Beckham stunned the world by announcing on January 11 that he had signed a five-year deal, which could potentially be worth up to 250 million dollars, to move to American side LA Galaxy at the end of this month.

"The public want him to stay and I want him to stay," Calderon told Spanish media in Paris, where he was attending the French Open tennis men's singles final between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer.

Calderon said that there was a clause in his contract with the LA Galaxy, which meant that he could stay in the Spanish capital, although it is the first time such an option has been mentioned publically.

"We need to sit down with him (Beckham), his representatives and with (sporting director Predrag) Mijatovic, look at this clause, and decide between us, but for me I would be delighted if he remained at the club," said Calderon.

In the event that Beckham does stay, and the 32 year-old repeatedly said before this season that he would like to end his career in the Spanish capital, it would herald a remarkable turnaround in relations between him and Real.

Two days after announcing he was crossing the Atlantic, Real coach Fabio Capello said that Beckham would never play again for the club and kept him on the sidelines for a month before recanting on his decision.

Capello is also believed to have told Calderon earlier in the season, before contract negotiations between Real and Beckham were due to get underway last autumn, that he didn't figure in his long-term plans.

"There was a bit of anger by the premature announcement of his exit, but we are now going to make an effort for him to stay," added Calderon on Sunday.

"Beckham has shown that he is a great player, with great pride.

"He is playing at a fantastic level and yesterday (on Saturday) he fought even though he was half-injured against Zaragoza."

Beckham's spokesman, however, insisted the player had "no intention" of turning his back on Los Angeles Galaxy.

"There is no intention of getting out of the Galaxy contract," his spokesman said. "David is looking forward to going to LA - but he wants to end his career at Real Madrid on a high note first, by winning the league."

Beckham is on the verge of picking up his first trophy since he joined Real in the summer of 2003.

Real, who have only lost one of their last 17 league games, are on top of La Liga and only need to beat Real Mallorca at home next Sunday in the final game of the season to secure their 30th Spanish championship.

Beckham's return to form over the second half of the season, despite also missing six weeks through injury, has been instrumental in their revival.

In the last four months, Real have put together a run which has seen them overhaul bitter rivals Barcelona, who are now second, and also third-placed Sevilla, who lead La Liga at the start of the year.