'English clubs battling to sign Beckham' - Florentino Perez

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says a host of English clubs are interested in signing David Beckham but he hopes the midfielder will extend his contract at the end of the season.

"All the English teams are fighting to try and get him to return there, but we are delighted with him," Perez said yesterday.

"With regard to renewing his contract, he has still got a year and a half left and we've got time to keep talking. But I like to do these things at the end of the season otherwise they develop into a soap opera.

"People sometimes overlook that Beckham plays some great games because it was said that we only signed him to sell shirts. He has given Real some great evenings of football and he will give them many more."

Beckham joined Real on a four-year contract from Manchester United in June 2003 for a fee of up to 35 million euros. Real have not won a major trophy since.

Real trail champions Barcelona by 13 points in the league, but have reached the semi-finals of the King's Cup and face a last 16 knockout tie against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Perez said that winning the King's Cup and a 10th European Cup had become the club's primary objectives this season.

"We are going to compete for every trophy, but personally I would love to win the King's Cup because it's the only trophy I haven't won as president," he said.