Beckham: Real Madrid gave me 'new lease of life'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Beckham: Real Madrid gave me 'new lease of life'

England captain David Beckham believes his move to Real Madrid has given him a 'new lease of life' and proved his doubters wrong.

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England captain David Beckham believes his move to Real Madrid has given him a 'new lease of life' and proved his doubters wrong.

Beckham joined the Spanish giants for £25million last summer after forging his reputation at Manchester United, where he played on the right of midfield.

But at Real, Beckham has been employed in the centre of a midfield which includes the likes of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, something the 28-year-old believes has helped him improve as a player.

Beckham puts the positional change down to his impressive start to life in Spain and has taken delight in proving wrong those who thought his transfer was motivated by commercial rather than footballing reasons.

He told Sky Sports 1: 'That (moving into the centre) is what has helped me produce the performances, it's helped me a lot. It means I have more of the ball and am involved in games.

'It has given me a new lease of life here - in Manchester I played on the right, I've been given a new role in the game and it's great to have that.

'I think the most important goal I scored was the first one because people were wary about me coming over here as a player and as a person - they thought I was here to sell shirts.

'I think I have improved as a player and if I have done that I've succeeded in what I wanted to do.

'Football's a challenge these days because every team you come up against is not easy, but I am enjoying the challenge.

'It was a hard thing to do, come from a club like Manchester United and carry on doing well and continue at a Manchester United level.'

Beckham also revealed the temptation of linking up with Real's galaxy of stars was too much to resist when the opportunity arose in the summer.

With the likes of Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Raul making Real the most feared team in Europe at present, Beckham even has doubts whether such a star-studded squad is likely to be assembled again.

He added: 'To experience playing and being in the same team as these players is something that might not ever happen again - to have so many great players in one team.

'It's like the Harlem Globetrotters because there are so many great players and showmen. I just wanted to be one of these stars and play in this team.'

Beckham looked back to his first day as a Real Madrid player, revealing the reception afforded him by his new team-mates was important in getting his new career off to a positive start.

He said: 'It was amazing the first day. I was really nervous, obviously. You see the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Raul walking in and they were all great to me - that's what I needed, I needed to be welcomed straight away.

'They all are really nice people, down to earth and that's the best thing about them, they are such great stars but they don't act as if they are so, so special.

'It's quite difficult but the players have been great. Roberto Carlos has been great, he is one of the nicest people I have ever met.'

But Beckham is looking beyond domestic action, believing England can go into Euro 2004 with a realistic chance of victory.

'If we get a certain amount of luck I definitely think we have the talent to go all the way,' he said.

'If we get a little bit of luck then you never know.'

Source: soccernet.com

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