There were only three David Beckham shirts left in the Real Madrid club shop yesterday at 3pm — a day after his on-field heroics in the Champions League against Bayern Munich had 80,000 Real fans chanting the affectionate, if slightly unimaginative, ode: “Beckham! Beckham! Beckham!”

Not since the heady days of his first season has that chant been heard so vociferously and there were also standing ovations from parts of the crowd every time he trotted across to take a corner. Disappointed at the way in which, so soon after breaking off talks with the club, he had signed a deal worth $250 million (about £130 million) with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Real tried to sweep the former England captain under the carpet. It has not worked.

The No 23 is as popular as ever and staff in the club shop told inquiring customers that more shirts are on their way. Who else could sell merchandise that will be out of date in three months’ time? It seems that Real fans want to remember Beckham despite the fact that his career at the club has coincided with three of the worst seasons in their history.

After the club’s poor start to the season, most fans were unconcerned about whether Beckham signed a new deal. He had been given limited starts by Fabio Capello, the coach, and supporters did not believe that giving him a new two-year deal was a priority.

Then came the announcement of his switch to the Galaxy and the decision to send him to the stands for the rest of the season. The decision has appeared increasingly unwise as Capello has been forced to fill the substitutes’ bench with injured players or members of the youth team, while someone who has played in three World Cup finals has waited in the wings.

The embodiment of dignity, Beckham has not whinged to the Spanish media about his treatment. He sat quietly next to his mother in his private box at the Bernabéu as free kicks were fired into row Z. And after a goal from a free kick on his return to the team two weeks ago and Tuesday’s performance, some fans are even asking: “Why are we selling him?”