Laporta tempts Beckham

Beckham appears certain to leave the premier league before the start of next season and Barcelona are the front runners to sign him after Laporta, a candidate in the club's presidential election, had an offer conditionally accepted by Manchester United.

Laporta, who will find out on Sunday if his election bid has been successful, was unable to announce any significant progress in his attempt to persuade Beckham to move to the Nou Camp, and the feeling in Spain and England is that Real Madrid are poised to step in.

While Real can boast the most attractive team in the world, Barcelona are nearing the end of a desperate domestic campaign, will not be playing in next season's Champions League and are struggling to make the second-tier UEFA Cup.

Real stayed silent on Wednesday, however, and Laporta had the world's attention as he defended what would be an expensive deal for a club short of cash, while at the same time tempting Beckham with the prospect of a team built around him.

"Beckham can be a leader of the team and it will be a strong team capable of winning titles," Laporta said. "He's a player and a man of exceptional qualities.

REFERENCE POINT

"Until recently, Barcelona were the reference point in world football, with the Dream Team coached by Johan Cruyff. We had good players and leaders, people who enjoyed playing football.

"We want another high quality team. We'll explain our project to Beckham's agents and the player and we'll try to convince him to come. We're talking about Football Club Barcelona, about David Beckham and about the best in the world."

Laporta revealed that he would invest a net sum of 50 million euros ($58.71 million) in five players, including Beckham, adding that the money could be recouped in four years.

According to Laporta, Barcelona could increase their annual income from 128 million euros ($150.3 million) a season in 2003 to 200 million euros ($234.8 million) in 2006, putting them just behind Manchester United in the ranking of the world's richest clubs.

"Bringing in one world-class player such as Beckham would bring in additional income of between 61 million euros ($71.62 million) and 99 million euros ($116.2 million)

"We're talking about a player of the first rank in footballing and media terms."

One of the players signed up is Rustu Recber, the Turkish international goalkeeper, but no other names have been revealed by Laporta.

The other side of the equation will be to sell members of the first team squad and promote other players from the club's respected B team.

Barcelona have lost Luis Figo and Rivaldo in the past three years but they still have several well regarded players, including Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, Argentine youngster Javier Saviola and Spanish defender Carles Puyol.

No candidate would dare to announce plans to sell those players and Laporta may instead be considering a clear-out of an under-performing squad.

SHOPPING LISTS

While Laporta was outlining his rebuilding plans, other candidates for the Barcelona presidency published their own shopping lists, with strikers Christian Vieri of Italy and Hernan Crespo of Argentina mentioned as possible signings.

None of the candidates could take the limelight away from Laporta, though, after Manchester United's extraordinary announcement on Tuesday that they would accept Laporta's bid if he won the election and secured Beckham's agreement.

Meanwhile, in Manchester, United fans seemed to accept the inevitability of Beckham moving abroad, with the fee reported to be in the region of 30 million pounds ($49.91 million), but few expected his destination to be Barcelona.

"He won't go to Barcelona, not a chance," said Dave Cullen, a season-ticket holder who has been watching United since 1958.

"But if he does go it won't be a problem for United. I'll be sorry to see him go, but people come and go and if you can get that kind of money for a 28-year-old, it's good business."

Beckham is on holiday in the United States with his wife, the former Spice Girl Victoria Adams, and children and not due back until the weekend.

He will return to a plea from Laporta's people for urgent talks and ever more intense interest from the British and Spanish media, who are relishing a story that looks set to run for a long while yet.