David Beckham

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's surprise resignation was sad said England captain David Beckham.

Beckham, who was speaking ahead of England's friendly with Uruguay, did pledge his future to 'the meringues' but paid hommage to Perez, who was responsible for bringing players like himself Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo to the club.

"No not atall," Beckham said in response to a question about if it would affect his future at Madrid.

"It was a surprise, I only heard late last night.

"I would like to thank Florentino for having given me the chance to play for such a great club.

"He's very intelligent. I have only good memories. He has to be congratulated on bringing such great players to the club.

"Obviously I don't know what is going to happen.

"However the club has already said they want me to stay. I am happy there and would like to stay there," added Beckham, who has had an up and down career with Madrid since he left Manchester United.

Perez resigned after an extraordinary meeting of the board on Monday which confirmed Perez would go and that Fernando Martin, a club vice-president, would take over the hot seat.

"Real Madrid needs change and this is the right moment for me to leave the presidency," Perez said at a press conference. "I am convinced this is the boost the club needs."

His resignation comes after a poor week for the club in losing 2-1 at Real Mallorca on Sunday and then 1-0 at home to Arsenal in the Champions League the previous Tuesday.

He arrived at the helm of the club in July 2000 and heralded the "galactico" era.

Perez added: "There is no crisis at the club. The financial and sporting set-up at the club is good and we are happy at what we have done here in the last six years."

He added he had made his decision on Sunday following the Mallorca defeat saying he suddenly had the conviction that change was needed.

"It was a gesture of loyalty for the good of the club," Perez continued.

During Perez's reign, Madrid won the Spanish league and Spanish Super Cup double in both 2001 and 2003, with a superb 2002 sandwiched in between when Madrid won the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

His successor Martin is like Perez 58-years-old and is one of the largest property developers in Spain.

He is one of Perez' closest friends and arrived with him at the club in 2000.

"I wish him all the luck in the world for this wonderful challenge," Perez said of Martin.
News.Yahoo