Real president wants Beckham to stay forever

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) Real Madrid want England midfielder David Beckham to stay at the club 'forever', newly-elected president Ramon Calderon said today.

''He's very important for us. Very, very important in any sense,'' he told Sky Sports News.

''He's a premium player, magnificent. All the supporters here are very much with him and of course he's very important in the commercial area,'' he added.

''I want to have him with us forever, at least the three years I think we have still with him.'' Beckham, who stood down as England captain on Sunday after his country's defeat in the World Cup quarter-finals by Portugal, joined Real from Manchester United in July 2003 for 24.5 million pounds.

REUTERS PKS RK2000