Beckham: Madrid career ends Sunday

He insists he was prepared to play out the rest of his career at Madrid but was told in January that his contract would not be renewed. Real president Ramon Calderon claimed this week that the Spanish club would try to convince Beckham to go back on a five-year agreement to join Los Angeles Galaxy and stay with Real, utilising a clause he claimed was in the contract.

But Beckham said: "There is no clause in the contract. My last game is Sunday. I have had an incredible time and hopefully I will end with the best ending possible."

He added: "I have had no contact with the president about anything else and I first realised I would be leaving Real in January when I was told my contract wouldn't be renewed.

"I knew I had to decide my future and leaving a club like Real Madrid is very difficult. But the future is very bright and something I'm really looking forward to now. But I'll miss Real Madrid and Spain a huge amount.

"I made a decision, I had to. I needed to make a decision and my option was the United States. I'm very happy about that decision, it's a very exciting prospect.

"The Real Madrid fans have been incredible, not just to me but to my family. That is something I will never forget in my whole life.

"I have to say thank you for that. I could without a doubt have stayed for two or three more years, I could have stayed for the rest of my career but things change.

"I have a lot of respect respect for the president and Fabio Capello, he is one of the best managers in football."