Two days after David Beckham announced he had agreed to sign for Los Angeles Galaxy, a furious Fabio Capello responded by saying the midfielder would never play for Real Madrid again.
The Italian justified his decision by saying the former England captain would be unable to focus on the job in hand and would lack motivation after signing a $250-million contract with his new club.
Beckham was reduced to watching his side's home matches from his glass-encased private box in the upper tiers of the Bernabeu and his career at Real Madrid looked to have come to an ignominious end.
Five months on, however, the 32-year-old was celebrating winning the league.
Photographs: Getty Images | Text: Reuters
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