Real Prayers …
Independent : Manchester United stand to collect up to £2m from Real Madrid if David Beckham wins the league next Sunday and Ruud van Nistelrooy finishes top scorer in Spain.
Real are a win away from the title and Van Nistelrooy is two goals clear in the scoring charts in La Liga. Now thanks to a clause in Beckham’s 2003 transfer to Spain, Madrid will owe United another £1m if he picks up a league winner’s medal.
And a further £1m will be on its way to Old Trafford thanks to the small print in the deal that saw Van Nistelrooy make the switch to Spain last season. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team should earn £1m more from the Dutchman finishing leading scorer and winning the title.
After almost four barren years, United had all but written off their chances of cashing in on Beckham. Now they stand to profit on the former England captain - and his former United team-mate.
