MADRID: David Beckham's first training session on Spanish soil since joining Real Madrid was overshadowed by teammate Claude Makelele's refusal to train with the rest of the squad on Wednesday.

While Beckham completed a light workout in the sweltering heat at the team's training ground, Makelele was in open rebellion over his contract.

The French international's agent, Marc Roger, said the player felt undervalued in the wake of the arrival of a string of highly-paid recruits.

Rogers then met with Real sporting director Jorge Valdano to try to persuade the club to either give his client a pay raise or sell him to Premier League side Chelsea.

But Valdano said the player's subsequent refusal to train would result in disciplinary action by the club.

Earlier, England captain Beckham joined the remainder of his teammates for an open session in front of around 1,000 fans. It was a relatively muted reception for a team that had drawn crowds of up to 45,000 during their three-week tour of the Far East.

Beckham acknowledged the cheers of fans as he jogged round the pitch at the soon-to-be demolished Ciudad Deportiva.

Crippling debts

It was the sale of the training facility that provided Real with the windfall that allowed the club to clear crippling debts of some US$250 million and still have sufficient funds left over to embark on a spending spree to buy the pick of world's best - and most glamorous - players.

Spending close to 200 million euros in the last three years, Real have brought Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham to join the likes of Roberto Carlos and Raul at the Bernabeu.

The club will continue using the ground for at least another month before moving out of the city to the Spanish Football Federation's headquarters while their new training ground is built close to the city's Barajas airport.

Meanwhile Real's latest high-priced signing appears to be settling in well. Beckham produced assured performances on the Asian tour both in his usual berth on the right wing and in the more central role many would like to see him occupy for England.

He also appears to have struck up a good rapport both with his teammates and fans, staying behind to sign autographs for the hundreds of young supporters crowded round the fences in the club car park.

But the club's high-profile recruitment policy already appears to be taking its toll on team morale, and former United assistant Carlos Queiroz will find his diplomatic skills tested to the limit as he settles into the pressure-packed role as Real coach.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 08/15/2003 page8)