17 JULY 2003
David Beckham has phoned his new Real Madrid team-mate, Steve McManaman, to ask him not to leave the club. It had been rumoured that Steve, who used to play for Liverpool, would be making a return to Britain later in the year. But he received a call from Becks asking him to stay on at the Spanish super-club, so that he'll have a trusted friend to talk to.

"He told me, 'Please don't leave Real Madrid, I don't want the shirt off your back'," said Steve, who has been playing for the legendary Spanish team for the past four years. "David said it would be great if we were out here together and that he'd love to be team-mates. He can't wait to join the club proper and wanted to know everything about life at Real Madrid."

The 31-year-old also disclosed that his countryman is delighted to be joining the club's all-star team. "He said it was a dream come true to play for the biggest club in the world. I told him he'll never look back."

Steve, David and the rest of the squad are about to set off on a pre-season tour of the Far East. And the Liverpool-born star promises he has no plans to leave Madrid, so Becks can count on his old friend for a bit of support. "I'm a shoulder to cry on when he needs it," he said.