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| August 17, 2003 | Sunday | Jumadi-us-Sani 18, 1424 |
Beckham has nowhere to hide: Spanish opponents
VALENCIA (Spain), Aug 16: David Beckham has nowhere to hide, according to Valencia midfielder Vicente Rodriguez, who will on Sunday go up against the England star in his first match as a Real Madrid player on Spanish soil.
Valencia host the Primera Liga champions in Beckham’s first match for Real in Spain following four friendlies in Asia in the Trofeo Naranja (orange trophy), effectively a pre-season tune-up.
But Rodriguez told Spanish media he wouldn’t like to be in Beckham’s shoes as all the hype surrounding his move meant “he won’t be able to leave his house.”
“Beckham is the best-known footballer in the world but I think to be under such pressure all the time can’t be good - he can’t leave his house.”
And the Spanish international warned that Sunday’s game “is no longer a friendly,” insisting he and his teammates would go all out to win as if the match were a league fixture.
Valencia will not be at full strength, however, as club officials revealed keeper Santiago Canizares has a gluteal muscle strain meaning Andres Palop is likely to start, while Argentine playmaker Kily Gonzalez is being rested after an ankle injury.—AFP
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