Beckham Feels Heat in Spain
“Beckham under siege and alone,” read one recent headline in a Spanish newspaper.
“The end of the idyll,” read another.
“Less millions and more grit,” fans of Real Madrid thundered recently at David Beckham, the English star who arrived in Spain last summer with much fanfare, but so far has delivered very little.
Real Madrid has been eliminated from the Champions League, lost the Copa del Rey and fallen from first place in the Spanish league standings after a 3-0 loss Sunday to Osasuna, a middle-of-the-pack club.
What’s more, team doctors Monday announced Brazilian striker Ronaldo would be sidelined for up to two weeks because of a leg injury suffered in a collision with Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo Sanzoi.
Ronaldo is expected to sit out key games Saturday against Atletico de Madrid and April 25 against Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Beckham was reported to be at his English mansion Monday with wife Victoria and their sons, Brooklyn and Romeo, to map out a new strategy for his life.
Beckham has been besieged by reporters and photographers in recent weeks, amid rumors of a breakup with his wife, known as “Posh Spice” when she performed with the pop group Spice Girls.
Real Madrid has six games remaining this season and is hopeful Beckham can rebound to rally the team to the league title.
“After four very good years, we are going through our worst moment,” said Jorge Valdano, Real Madrid’s sport director.
News From England
Claudio Ranieri, coach of Chelsea, had already awarded the English Premier League title to rival Arsenal after the Gunners’ scoreless draw Saturday against Middlesbrough.
Ranieri then watched Chelsea’s championship hopes take another hit with a 3-2 loss Monday to Aston Villa.
Arsenal leads the league standings with 78 points, with Chelsea second with 71 and Manchester United third with 65.
Chelsea eliminated Arsenal last week from the Champions League, but faltered badly against Aston Villa.
“We and only Manchester United can achieve second place,” Ranieri said. “It will be a good battle between the two teams.”
There also is an intense battle for fourth place in the league standings and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Liverpool and Newcastle have 49 points, with Aston Villa next with 48 and Charlton trailing with 47.
“I want to get into Europe, but let us be realistic,” Aston Villa Coach David O’Leary told Sky Sports.
“If you’re going to tell me we’re better than Newcastle or Liverpool, I just don’t know.”
Russians Are Coming
Vladimir Potanin, reportedly the fourth-richest man in Russia, is one of two men who might buy Manchester City for $64.1 million, according to a report in the News of the World. Potanin, 42, once served as Russia’s deputy prime minister and owns FC Moscow.
Ralif Safin, founder of Russia’s largest oil production company, also might try to buy Manchester City.
Copa Libertadores
Argentina’s Boca Juniors and River Plate, with seven Copa Libertadores titles between them, hope to rebound from upsets last week to win their groups and secure berths in the second round of the Latin American club championship.
Defending champion Boca Juniors, a 1-0 loser to Chile’s Colo Colo last week, faces Bolivar of Bolivia next week. River Plate, champion in 1986 and 1996, lost by the same score to Libertad of Paraguay last week, but plays Tachira of Venezuela on Wednesday.
Only the winners will automatically advance to the next round.
