Becks' Days as a Galactico Numbered?

David Beckham's shelf life as a Real Madrid `galactico' faces further scrutiny this week as manager Mariano Garcia Remon ponders whether the England captain's 'best before' label reads `December 2004'.
Remon made the frank admission that Beckham was dropped, along with Roberto Carlos, for reasons of form after the 3-2 victory at Racing Santander last night.


Quite how Beckham reacts to such a put-down remains to be seen, but the ubiquitous national team skipper has found himself coming in for increased flak for his on-field displays in the past 12 months.

'I put out the players who I have seen training best during the week,' said Remon.

'Beckham and Roberto Carlos have not trained well and I considered that they should not play.

'I choose the side based on the work they do during the week and this was my ideal side.'

Whether on duty for club or country, Beckham has seemed to be in a lull in 2004, and both concerns have consequently suffered.

At the European Championships in June and since, Beckham's role in the England team, never mind his status as skipper, has been called into question.

Beckham has had his moments for Madrid this season, twice netting match-winning goals, but his productivity has waned of late. In the latter half of last season, when Madrid dive-bombed from top of the table to also-rans status, Beckham was one of a number who longed for consistency.

Beckham's position reached a head when 17-year-old Javi Garcia took his place in midfield in Santander.

Remon is worried about Beckham's commitment in training, and should he be left on the bench when Madrid sign off for a fortnight with a league fixture against Sevilla this Wednesday, then that would be an ominous sign.

For all the money lavished on the likes of #24million man Beckham, Madrid are 10 points adrift of leaders Barcelona with the short winter break approaching.

Beckham is not being made the lone scapegoat, but the message from Remon indicates his feelings.

Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo responded to the admonishment of their erstwhile midfield comrade with mesmeric displays against Santander, perhaps fearing they could be next in line for the chop. Zidane netted the winning goal two minutes into injury-time.

Appointed early in the season, when Jose Antonio Camacho quit the club, Remon has stamped his authority on the matter by demonstrating Beckham will not be molly-coddled.

But the two-week Christmas break comes at an opportune time for Beckham, who is known to be carrying a niggling injury. If he can shake that off, then a fully fit Beckham would be hard for the manager to ignore.

Remon used his entitlement of three substitutes last night, but both Beckham and Roberto Carlos stayed on the bench throughout.

Both remain marketable assets: neither is too old to revive their career and make their omission last night quickly forgotten.

But Madrid, who have previously been accused of bowing to the celebrity of their players by selecting their `galacticos' game-in and game-out, look to have enforced a change of policy.

If results are not going Madrid's way with superstars in the side, two of the most identifiable players of modern times could yet find themselves sacrificed on a permanent basis.