Beckham was Real's inspiration for their late title surge last season and yesterday admitted: "I felt I was capable of playing longer with Real Madrid. I believed that I still could've played up to three seasons at that level, but as the club informed me in January that they weren't going to renew my contract, I had to make a decision.

"My heart was racing after we won the title against Mallorca, but the decision had already been made."

Asked about the lack of success in recent years at Real, Beckham was adamant: "There were too many changes. Three presidents and six trainers are too many."