David Beckham continues to enjoy the kind of adoration usually reserved for Champions League winners at the Bernabéu and, after an inspired return to action in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory at home to Valencia on Saturday evening, Fabio Capello, the Real coach, was asked if he thought that it would be possible to cancel the player’s move to Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

“He has signed a contract with them and there is no going back,” Capello said. “Beckham played very well. In the second half there was more space and the game slowed down and with Beckham in midfield we were able to make the most of that.” After an absence of six weeks with twisted knee ligaments, Beckham, who came off the substitutes’ bench with Real heading for a draw that would have all but written off their slim chances of catching Barcelona, the league leaders, whipped in a pinpoint free kick that Sergio Ramos had only to make contact with to send past Santiago Cañizares, the visiting team’s goalkeeper.

“It’s been a long time since someone gave me such a good pass,” Ramos said. Ruud van Nistelrooy put Real in front with a spectacular first-half volley before Fernando Morientes equalised just after half-time.