Beckham Magazine - Becks to wear 23

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DAY B: BECKHAM TO WEAR REAL MADRID 23
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2003

Both the fans and the player have had a dream come true today at 12:15. The ceremony was conducted by Alfredo Di Stéfano in front of 449 journalists that will spread the news all over the world. The whole football scene was eagerly awaiting this moment: David Robert Joseph Beckham wearing the Real Madrid shirt. It will be shirt number 23. President Florentino Pérez defined the Englishman as "a great footballer dreaming about playing in Real". Beckham said he was right: "Football means everything to me and to be a Real Madrid player is a dream come true. Thanks and Hala Madrid!".

Everything was set at Real Madrid's Raimundo Saporta Stadium since the early morning. David Beckham walked into the Sports Complex at 12:12 in the company of his wife Victoria Adams, who was carrying a beautiful white kitten, a present given to them on their arrival. There were 449 acredited journalists from 166 different media: 20 Spanish TV cameras and 25 foreign ones. Some of them were broadcasting the event live. The most wished moment was met by an exclamation from the crowd of journalists. David Beckham appeared on the stage set up for the occasion. On the background we could see a yelow panel showing the picture of the player and the legend "Beckham and Real Madrid". The player came on the stage joined by Florentino Pérez, Alfredo Di Stéfano and the whole Real Madrid Board of Directors.

Welcome of Florentino Pérez
Florentino Pérez began his speech by thanking all the media for their presence at presentation. He remarked that, despite its significance, the purpose of the occasion should always be at the forefront: "this is the presentation of a great footballer".

Real Madrid president explained that "the white Club has signed a world icon, a player with a huge influence all over the blobe, a symbol of our time, a symbol of postmodernity. All this might be true or not, but what is certain is that Real has signed a great footballer, a great professional with a will to improve, sacrifice capabilities, team spirit, naturalness and other qualities widely acknowledged. Beckham is among the best, that's why he is now with us", said Florentino Pérez.

"With the arrival of David Beckham, we are to become the best team both on and off the field. He dreamt about playing here in the most thrilling league. It is a challenge ahead of him and he is strong enough to face it. Let us get this right, David is focused on football. Yesterday he said to us "I can't wait, I want to step on the Bernabéu pitch and he did so. Now it is us that can't wait to see him play. He is one of the best English players ever. We work to gather the best football possible in our team. David is here because he wanted to come. He is coming from the "Theatre of Dreams" and has arrived at the team "of his dreams". He is more than a footballer. He is here because he is a fantastic player. I hope you are succesful and have all the fortune on your side. Welcome and congratulations", he concluded.

Beckham speaks
Beckham spoke next beginning with "gracias". He confessed "I have always loved football, I love my family, of course, and I have a wonderful life, but football is everything to me. Being part of Real Madrid is a dream come true. Thanks and Hala Madrid!

Shirt number ... 23!
Then another awaited moment came. Alfredo di Stéfano, Real Madrid Honorary President, handed Beckham the shirt he will be wearing over the next four seasons. The mistery got solved. The garment had the number 23 on its back. It is Jordan's number, though in Real Madrid nobody had worn it ever since Munitis left. It is a number that apparently means a lot in Britain.

Curiously enough got number 24 during his early Manchester years and was now posing with his new shirt 23 in front of some 83 acredited photographers. Then he posed with the members of Real Madrid Board of Directors. Just one hour after being presented, over 200 shirts with 23 had already been sold at the Real Madrid official stores. This is only the beginning.

Beckham speaks Meeting the fans
After the presentation at Raimundo Saporta Stadium, which was crowned with Victoria's kiss, David headed for the Sports Complex locker rooms where he was to put on the kit of his new club for the first time. He also put on new boots. Each boot had the name of one of his sons on it (Brooklyn and Romeo) together with today's date. At 12:40, all in white, Beckham came on ground 2 of Sports Complex to meet over a thousand of fans. The Club had allowed them into the field because they had been blocking the streets nearby since the early hours of the morning.

Beckham asked for three balls to give a display of his well-known kicks in front of the media. Having shown his technical skills, David kicked one ball towards the fans, another one towards the photographers winking at them, and handed the third one to the supporters present at the Sports Colmplex. After his tour around the ground and when he came up to the fence, a boy managed to break through and give a hug to his idol.

Beckham speaks
It was an unexpected and unscheduled action and David reacted with most naturalness and affability. You can tell he likes children. Beckham asked for a shirt and put it on the kid. The player began to win the fans over when the boy bursted into tears. Eleven-year-old Alfonso López will never forget this day.

After that, David stayed a bit longer for his picture session before the media. He signed his first autographs as Real player (he signed as number 23). There will be more pictures to be taken and more photos, and goals and victories. The good things about David have only started.