Today was the last training session of 2006 but David Beckham did not participate, acording to the Real Madrid site this is because he is sufferring from cervicalgia, which is quite literally "a pain in the neck" - this refers to his injury not to Capello, if anyone is confused :) The timing of this, although it might well be very genuine, does appear suspicious, whatever is impacting negatively on Becks, I hope it is resolved soon and he feels better.

David Beckham has said he won't leave Real Madrid during the January transfer window and clearly his preference is to, at the very least, complete this season. However, circumstances can change very quickly in football and we can't know what is transpiring between David Beckham and Real Madrid at the moment, and exactly what outcome the club is trying to achieve.

For example if David Beckham does not renew and wants to remain at Real Madrid, choosing to delay making his final decision, as has been reported, will the club be accepting of this? Will the situation at Real Madrid become untenable? Will Real Madrid ask Becks to sign or transfer in the current window, making it clear that if he does not, his continuing at the club whilst his contract remains un-renewed, will not be very enjoyable? I don't know. I can only imagine that there are some tense negotiations occurring as David Beckham's interests and the clubs interests may not be perfectly aligned. I, of course, hope the outcome will favour Becks.

If, and I think it unlikely, David Beckham did transfer in the January window, then it is reported that at least 15 clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan (it is reported they have already tabled a contract offer with David Beckham's agent), Juventus, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspurs, Aston Villa, West Ham, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Newcastle, New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy and Celtic are all dressed up in their prettiest frocks, furiously batting their eye-lids and all ready to woo our favorite mid-fielder, Mr Beckham. However, there are several rolls of the dice still to be tossed by Real Madrid. One thing is for sure the rumor mill is going to be running very hot. Here's the latest from that *cough* esteemed and reliable *cough* paper, News of the World.

The Sunday People Tabloid are reporting Liverpool are set to make a bid for David Beckham on the back of the proposed takeover of the Anfield club by Dubai International Capital. In the very unlikely event this is true, I feel incredibly safe in saying that there's not a snowball's chance in hell that Becks would go to play for Liverpool, this millenium or the next. As John McEnroe liked to say, "You can not be serious!"

Hope you have a great New Year's Eve and here's too a bright and shiny 2007, I hope it brings you everything you wish for and I especially hope it's a wonderful year for Becks!