DAVID BECKHAM

It’s a long way from Leytonstone, mate. David Beckham arrived in Spain in the summer of 2003. Joining Real Madrid, the self-proclaimed ‘best team in the world’ he arrived with great expectations. Playing alongside galácticos like Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo and Raul he was hoping to learn a useful language, get a bit of a suntan and add extensively to his trophy collection. Two years on, he learnt to tell journalists “to go **** yourselves” in purest Castellano and was hinting at leaving the country because the paparazzi wouldn’t leave his family alone: ‘’They’re crossing the line.’’ The more jaded hacks pointed to the fact that he had won nothing of note since he had arrived at Madrid. The team of ageing stars no longer shined anymore and a major overhaul of players was being offered as a solution. What better time to leave an ailing giant before he gets asked to by the president? The ‘24/7 Valencia’ interview with Beckham took place after the Valencia v Real Madrid match in March 2005. During the match, the less charitable sections of the crowd chanted all sorts of insults about Becks and his partner. Despite the abuse, he got on with his job. Like the rest of the Real Madrid team, he looked tired and they were lucky to get a draw against a re-energised Valencia team. Suffice to say, Beckham was substituted in the 77th minute for midfielder Albert Celades! Post-match, the ‘24/7 Valencia’ reporter found Beckham to be very amenable and happy to spend some time with the English Speaking journalists from the Daily Mail, Guardian, The Sun and 24/7 Valencia. For somebody so much in the spotlight, he was refreshingly downto-earth and normal in his demeanour. Spending a quarter of an hour with him face-to-face, you sensed that he was quietly taking his universal fame in his stride. Regarding the Premier League, Becks chatted about the ‘’incredible Van Nistelrooy being back at Man Utd was a massive boost for the team”. Regarding the Liga and his toll of yellow cards, there was the obligatory: ‘’Obviously, I’m going to be disappointed to be missing the Getafe game”. Yeah, right. DAVID BECKHAM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

At one point, his green eyes swivelled in the direction of our ‘24/7 Valencia’ reporter... who had once worked as a kitchen porter where Victoria and Beckham happened to have had their first ever date on the outskirts of London at ‘The Castle’ in Woodford Green. Although born in the East End, Becks had grown up in neighbouring Chingford… 24/7 Valencia: David...One question about food. Which do you prefer? Fish ‘n’ chips or paella? David Beckham: (long pause, eyes caught in the searchlight moment) “Uhhh...I like them both!!!” So there you have it. Mr Beckham, at heart, is a diplomatic soul. Despite all the pressures and fame, there’s none of the insolence and dismissiveness that some footballers are famed for. He happily allowed ‘24/7 Valencia’ to take exclusive pictures for the article. While the boy Becks and his Spanish team grabbed most of the headlines over the seasons, some little ole’ club on the Mediterranean coast got on with the job of winning the Spanish League twice, the U.E.F.A Cup and the Super-Cup. Indeed, they were ranked statistically as ‘Best club team in the World 2004’ by U.E.F.A. The name? Valencia Club de Fútbol... Fast forward to 2019! The recently retired David Beckham celebrated Valencia CF’s memorable Copa del Rey final victory over FC Barcelona in Seville, last summer, in the company of long-time friend Peter Lim with Beckham’s sons wearing Valencia CF shirts!!! On Beckham’s twitter account, after witnessing Valencia CF beat FC Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey final in person, Becks added: “Congratulations to Peter and @valenciacf” as well as “I miss Spain.” Article by 24/7 Valencia team ‘David Beckham is President and co-owner of Inter Miami CF. Diego Alonso is a former Valencia CF player and now manager of Inter Miami CF’