Joan Laporta, who was elected Barcelona president on Sunday after agreeing a deal with United, contacted Beckham’s advisers yesterday in the hope of delivering his electoral pledge. It has been clear for some time, however, that the player’s preference is to move to Madrid. Negotiations between Real and SFX, Beckham’s representative, are progressing swiftly, with the broader aspects of a playing contract already agreed.

Laporta and Sandro Rosell, his assistant, have said that they will be angry if Beckham ends up at Real, but talks to that end are already well advanced. As reported in later editions of The Times yesterday, Peter Kenyon, the United chief executive, met Pedro López, an envoy from Madrid, in Sardinia on Friday to discuss the matter, with sources at Old Trafford indicating that the clubs are now closer to an agreement.

They were poles apart in their valuation of Beckham before Friday’s talks, with Real intending to offer no more than £14 million and offering a player such as Geremi, who spent last season on loan to Middlesbrough, or even Luis Figo in part exchange. Kenyon made clear his opposition to that proposal, insisting on a straight cash deal, but sources have indicated that a compromise is likely.

The final agreement is likely to be about £26 million, with United expected to soften their stance on an exchange if it becomes apparent that their cash valuation will not be met. They will not consider signing Geremi, whom they have already been offered on loan for next season, or Figo, the Portugal midfield player. Claude Makelele, the France midfield player, could prove a more effective bargaining tool.

The protracted saga will take another turn tomorrow when Beckham embarks on a week-long promotional tour of Asia, taking in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, but all parties believe that an agreement will be reached shortly after his return. The only losers in the affair will be Barcelona and Laporta, who was elected president on Sunday largely on the back of his agreement with United. With Real firm favourites to sign the 28-year-old, Laporta was already beginning to backtrack. “I did not promise to bring David Beckham to Barcelona,” he said. “I said I had an agreement with Manchester United that contained conditions. One of the conditions was that I became president. I have now done that.”

Raddy Antic, the Barcelona coach, does not share his president’s zeal for the signing, however. “Barcelona are spending a lot of money for just one player, rather than a few players to improve the side,” Antic said. “There is no doubt about Beckham’s quality, but I don’t know if he will sign.”

SFX stated seven days ago, after United announced that they had accepted Barcelona’s conditional offer, that Beckham had “no plans to meet Mr Laporta”, adding that they were disappointed at seeing their client “used as a pawn in the Barcelona presidential election”. Tentative talks are expected, however, because Beckham has been advised to keep his options open.

Barcelona have secured a deal to sign Rüstü Reçber, the Turkey goalkeeper, on a free transfer from Fenerbahçe and Laporta could yet pull off another coup with the acquisition of Ronaldinho, the Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil forward.

Roberto Assis, Ronaldinho’s agent and brother, has agreed contracts with three clubs — United, Barcelona and Real — and has also arranged to meet Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle United chairman, in London tomorrow. United were thought to be firm favourites to sign the 23-year-old, but, while Real are unlikely to pursue a deal, Laporta is determined to lure Ronaldinho to the Nou Camp.

PSG have still to agree to sell Ronaldinho, with François Graille, the French club’s president, claiming yesterday that he was “sure” that their most prized asset would stay in Paris, but the player is eager to grace one of Europe’s leading leagues. He has expressed enthusiasm about moving to Old Trafford, but the lure of Barcelona, where he would have some Brazilian company, cannot be underestimated.

Newcastle remain the outsiders, even if, unlike Barcelona, they can offer Champions League football next season, but Shepherd is determined to explore the possibility. He enjoys a healthy working relationship with PSG, from whom he has signed Didier Domi, Alain Goma and Laurent Robert in recent years, with Robert likely to be offered in part exchange as a ready-made replacement.

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