The "don't be too beautiful" game.
A quote from Jorge Valdano was included in a story in The Times yesterday, one of many (many!) speculating about what will happen with Becks' contract and what is and isn't going on at Real Madrid. I guess we will all know the answer to that soon enough! I found it very interesting, in amongst a lot of stories that are not interesting and merely speculative, because it helped explain perhaps why Beck's is sometimes criticised even though he doesn't deserve it. Here's the quote from Jorge Valdano, the former Real sporting director, who was instrumental in bringing him to Spain in 2003.
“Those who resent football becoming a business also resent Beckham — a symbol of the game’s commercialisation,” Valdano said. “It is unfair because he has talent and professionalism. On the pitch he plays football in the classic British style, giving everything for the cause.
On the pitch he creates for the forwards, he threatens the opposition goal because of the quality of his shooting, he covers the full back, he sticks his foot in with bravery and then he combs his hair, dresses up and leaves the dressing-room . . . and there his other life begins.”
I think Valdano has really nailed it. David Beckham has always been able to separate his football from the rest of his life and has always retained his professionalism and focus. However, that doesn't prevent him from paying a price, for the fact that others can not get past the celebrity and resulting commercial status.
Calderon has also been quoted widely in the english press expressing surprise over Beck's being left out of the England squad. The story is here. The part where he says "The coach must be one very qualified coach" - made me laugh.
Finally, Predrag Mijatovic, the Sporting Director has been reported as suggesting Beck's might have to take a pay cut. In your dreams Predrag, get a clue. You don't pluck the goose that lays the golden egg - because that's just plucking stupid.
posted by rpm at 12:13 AM
5 Comments:
nothing against calderon but why is he always running his mouth? Hes quotes here there and everywhere, I know he says nice things but I would have thought the negotiation between employer and employee, issues of retirng and pay should all be private??
8:14 AM
I feel so sad for becks these days. Maybe he does have to take a pay cut because he wants to stay there and win something and they do not need him so maybe they have the upper hand in negotiation, yes? He will still want to play top level football so I can't see why he would want to go the mls at this time :(
9:19 AM
Aaron,
I too feel sad for Becks with some of what has happened, but as disappointing as it is, his hand has not been all that weakened in terms of negotiating his contract. I'm sure this will be yet another case of the media twisting something, because Real Madrid could not be that naieve or foolish. David Beckham has been a huge factor in Real Madrid becoming the largest club in the world and if they left his agreement as it currently is, they would retain 50% of the image rights for the worlds most high profile sporting icon. That's not a inconsequential sum of money. Real Madrid will have an end objective of "more of the same please" anything else would be commercially harmful to the club. Beckham pays for his salary and half of the teams, single-handedly! No one else in the team other than Ronaldo comes close to having the same sort of international clout. Don't let the media worry you. Maybe some of the management at Real Madrid will strike a "pose" but if you do the math, Becks is not without bargaining chips in his corner, no matter what the media would imply. It will be ok, if a contract is renewed on the same or better terms fine, if not Becks will be able to negotiate the most lucrative free transfer as a player in the history of football come January, do you really think Real Madrid could afford that, to front up to the fans and say well Becks is going to go on a free cos we tried to cut his pay - it'll all come out in the wash, :-)
Anna
11:11 AM
You make it sound like Real Madrid will keep Becks for commercial reason not because hes a good player, shouldn't it be they pay him cos of what kind of player he is? I think he is a great player!!
7:28 PM
I think he's a great player too! I'm sorry if you thought I was saying otherwise, I didn't mean to give that impression. All I meant was that when Real Madrid negotiates Becks contract they not only have to pay him to play but they have to pay him for his total contribution to Real Madrid. He makes a huge contribution on the field of course but it is undeniable that he makes a huge contribution off of it too. Some people try to suggest that this commercial contribution is all their is to Becks, I am not one of them and I think the people who say such things are just ignorant! All I was trying to say was that I couldn't imagine that Becks would receive a pay cut because of his total value to the club being so high and because I couldn't imagine Real Madrid wanting to let him go on a Free. I just think all this talk is just that talk, and half of it is probably made up by the media anyhow lol :-) Ok I hope thats clearer!
10:27 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home