Football fans want to know: Why did Real Madrid pay a majestic $41
million for Manchester United star and England captain David Beckham?
The Spanish club already has another magician in right midfield, Luis
Figo, who produces more goals and assists than Beckham does and leads
him in free-kick conversions, the English player's stock-in-trade. The
answer came last week from Tokyo, where Beckham and his wife, Victoria,
arrived to promote a brand of chocolate and a chain of beauty salons.
Wherever they went, the couple was mobbed by fans wearing Beckham shirts
and waving Beckham dolls. Staking out the player's hotel, Yusuke Ozaki,
24, sported a Manchester United shirt but had already switched
allegiance. "Real Madrid is my favorite club," he beamed. Beckham's
legions of Asian fans could bring Real millions in merchandising
revenue. Figo may bend it better than Beckham, but when it comes to
giving the bottom line some kick, the Englishman scores every time.
