BECKHAM HURT BY CAPELLO SNUB

David Beckham has admitted the thought of never playing for Real Madrid again "hurt a lot" when manager Fabio Capello froze him out of first-team duty earlier this season. Capello said that the former England captain had played his last game for the club after it was revealed that he had signed a five-year £128-million deal to join Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy. But Beckham continued to train hard and eventually convinced the Italian manager that he was worthy of a recall before dramatically scoring on his return to the side. Speaking about Capello's decision to leave him in the cold, the former Manchester United midfielder conceded that he was shocked. He told Sky Sports 2: "I was really surprised. He (Capello) has always been pretty fair with me. "He's been really respectful of me as a person and a player and that's why it was such a surprise. "But he's shown what sort of a person and man - and manager - he is now. "I was thinking I would never play (for Real) again and it was hurting me a lot." The midfielder, 31, refused to criticise his manager when he was stuck on the sidelines, explaining that he has too much respect to lash out at his boss. "I'm thankful (to Capello). I would never come out publicly and criticise him. He's too respected in the game and I respect him. "(I reacted) the same way I've always come back from things, like whenever people say I'm not up to the job. "I proved to him I am a professional. I think he said, 'How can he be committed to the team when he's signed to someone else?' "But I proved I am committed; it doesn't matter if I'm going. "I'll still go flying into tackles and try and win something with this team." Now Beckham, who has just returned to the side after a knee injury, will play a part in Real's unlikely bid for the Primera Liga title and get the chance to compete once again in what he considers to be one of the world's finest sporting arenas. "For me playing at the Bernabeu is one of the best feelings in the world. "I always loved playing at the Bernabeu and when I look back, playing at the Bernabeu will be the highlight of playing at Madrid except, obviously, for wearing the famous white shirt."

BECKHAM RETURNS TO FIRE REAL's TITLE PUSH

David Beckham returned from a six-week injury absence to set up Real Madrid's winner in a 2-1 victory over Primera Liga title rivals Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored with a spectacular volley to put Real in front before Fernando Morientes levelled against his former club soon after the break. Beckham, fit again after a knee injury, came on as a second-half substitute and provided a trademark free kick for Sergio Ramos to head the deciding goal in the 73rd minute. Real climbed to second in the table on 57 points, two behind leaders Barcelona who visit Villarreal on Sunday. Third-placed Sevilla (55) host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Valencia (53) are fourth. Real Sociedad kept up their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid. Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic poked in Savio's cross for the opener before Brazilian forward Savio made it 2-0 with a volley six minutes from time.

BECKHAM TO MISS FIFTH GAME WITH REAL

David Beckham will miss his fifth straight league game for Real Madrid on Saturday due to a sprained right knee ligament. The 31-year-old midfielder was ruled out Friday from Madrid's 20-man squad to play Racing Santander in the Spanish league. Beckham ran into the advertising signs behind the goal during Madrid's league game against Getafe on March 4 to damage ligaments in his knee. On Thursday, Beckham returned to the locker room after light training and didn't practice with the rest of the squad. Madrid is third in the league with 54 points, two behind leader FC Barcelona and one back from Sevilla. In July, Beckham will start a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

BECKHAM BIDS FAREWELL TO OLD TRAFFORD

Manchester United turned David Beckham into an international superstar and on Tuesday he bid an emotional farewell to Old Trafford before he quits European soccer for the US. Beckham joined United in 1989 aged 14, debuted in 1992, and transferred to Real Madrid in 2003. In July, he's expected to start a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. "The time I spent at this club was the best time in my whole football career," Beckham told the 74,000-sellout crowd at halftime of a charity match won 4-3 by United over a Europe XI. Injury forced him to withdraw from the star-studded European side which faced United to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the EU and the Red Devils' half century of play in continental soccer. Since he moved to Spain, the 31-year-old had returned to the stadium in northwest England as England captain but hadn't been able to personally thank United for 14 trophy-filled years. "I've waited four years to actually come back and to actually say thank you to the fans and the people of the club," he said. Beckham won six English Premier League titles and a Champions League medal during his United career. He told supporters that he was grateful for the strong support shown in his darkest hour. In 1998 he became a public hate figure after being sent off for England in a World Cup match against Argentina. On the pitch, he publicly supported his former manager Alex Ferguson, who struck Beckham's eye with a soccer boot in a dressing room bust-up on the eve of his departure. "Everybody knows here that you've got the best manager in the world at this club," Beckham told the crowd to rapturous applause. "David Beckham had some great years here. He came as a boy, all his formative years were here. It was a great learning foundation here before he went to Madrid," Ferguson said.

BECKHAM TO MISS 4 WEEKS WITH INJURED KNEE

David Beckham will be sidelined for a month after hurting a knee ligament during a Spanish League game last weekend, an injury that eliminated his chance of being recalled to England's national team for European Championship qualifiers this month. The 31-year-old midfielder hurt his right knee during Real Madrid's 1-1 tie with Getafe on Sunday when his momentum following a cross took him into an advertising sign behind the goal. He limped off the field and a scan Monday revealed the injured ligament. Beckham missed three games in November due to an injured left knee, which he hurt at the World Cup. Beckham agreed in January to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy worth about $27.5 million in base salary, His contract with Real Madrid ends June 30, and the Galaxy expect he will join the team in August. Beckham was taken off in the 69th minute, 37 minutes after teammate Jose Antonio Reyes was carried off on a stretcher after hurting his left knee. Both will miss Wednesday's European Champions League game at Bayern Munich. Famous for his bending free kicks and crosses, Beckham has 17 goals in 94 appearances for England. He was captain for 58, stepping down after England was eliminated in last year's World Cup quarterfinals. Beckham has not played for England since. His wife, Victoria, is a former member of the Spice Girls, and the pair are expected to provide a boost to MLS in attendance and television ratings. Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello benched him from Dec. 20 until Feb. 10. When Beckham first agreed to a contract with the Galaxy, the coach said he wouldn't play for Real Madrid again, but Capello then changed his mind.

BECKHAM STILL HOPES TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND

David Beckham believes he could play for the national team when he's thousands of kilometres away with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The former England captain, who was dropped after last year's World Cup, will join the Major League Soccer club after his contract with Real Madrid ends in June. Although Beckham hasn't been able to win back his England spot while in Spain, he sees no reason why he shouldn't return while a Galaxy player. "I will still be available for England when I'm playing over there," he told The Sun in an interview published Friday. "Even though the seasons don't run alongside each other, I'm a fit player who has always been able to perform even if I've had a month or two months off. "I will never retire from England, never." Beckham says he is still disappointed he was dropped by England coach Steve McClaren and wants to get his place back so that he can play for his country at the new 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium, which is scheduled to open within the next two months. "That is still in my dreams. In reality we have to wait and see," he said. "It's not down to me, it's one for the manager. But I'd love to play at Wembley for England." Beckham, who has played 94 times for his country, said he saw his move to MLS as helping to improve the image of soccer in the United States. "It's about being an ambassador for the MLS and taking football to a different level in the States," he said. "I'd be stupid to think I can make it as big as baseball, basketball and American football. "That's not going to happen. I'm not going there thinking I'm going to change everything. My aim is to help the kids in America enjoy football.

BECKHAM SENDING-OFF WRONG - MIJATOVIC

David Beckham's dismissal for Real Madrid on Saturday night was another example of poor refereeing, according to the club's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic. Beckham was given his marching orders in injury-time at the end of Madrid's goalless draw with Real Betis, the 31-year-old being shown a straight red by referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez for his tackle on Jose Isidoro after he thought he had been fouled himself. And Mijatovic believes that incident was one in a string of refereeing decisions which have gone against his side at the Bernabeu this season, saying: "The sending-off of Beckham was a clear passage of play. We received a clear foul and it turned into a sending-off for our player." He added: "A (Betis) player on a yellow elbows Robinho and the referee, who is half a metre away, does nothing. I don't know what has happened but I have the feeling the referees are against us. "There were plays and cards that I did not understand, nor does anybody. We are not going to complain but it is necessary to highlight it. We have always remained quiet but the time has come to say something." Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy believes Beckham's challenge only warranted a booking. "It was just behind the play and I feel a yellow card would have been sufficient," the Dutchman said.