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Beckham touted to return to play Sunday, overcoming foot injury

Associated Press
Oct. 3, 2003 10:06 a.m.

MADRID, Spain (AP)— David Beckham is likely to play in Real Madrid’s home game against Espanyol Sunday after recovering from a foot injury, his team’s web site said Friday. The star midfielder, who sustained a swollen right instep during last week’s game against Valencia, joined the rest of the team Friday for a rainy hour-and-a-half training session in the Las Rozas ground outside of Madrid. Barring a relapse in the next 24 hours, Beckham’s performance on the pitch gave every indication that he had overcome his injury, said Real Madrid’s web site, www.realmadrid.com. The injury, which kept the England captain out of Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League victory over UEFA Cup holders Porto, stirred fears he would not be competing in England’s crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey on Oct. 11. But Madrid’s announcement that Beckham is likely to play Sunday raised hopes that he would be fit to travel to and play in Istanbul next week. Italian star happy with contract extension

Italian star happy with contract extension

Associated Press
Oct. 3, 2003 9:30 a.m.

TURIN, Italy (AP)— Striker Alessandro Del Piero said Friday he was overjoyed at signing a five-year contract extension with Turin powerhouse Juventus, which will allow the imaginative star to end his playing career with the Serie A team where he debuted 10 years ago. “It was a dream when I was a child to begin and finish with the same team,” Del Piero told a news conference. Juventus general director Luciano Moggi said: “Del Piero is for sure the banner-carrier – perhaps the last – for the club. He’s a symbol who is loved by all our fans.” The new contract, through 2008, provided a 20 percent cut in the original euros 5.6 million euros ($6.5 million) yearly salary of the 28-year-old forward. He will now earn over 4 million a year euros ($4.6 million). Several Italian clubs have been trying to reduce the salaries of their stars, which account for most deficits of Serie A teams. Juventus, owned by the Agnelli family of auto tycoons, suggested that Del Piero may join the club management at the end of his time as a player. The Juve captain started with the Serie A team in 1993, after playing a few matches with second-division Padova. He has since become a symbol of the black-and-white striped team, which is known as the Old Lady because of its age, wealth and success. Juve carried out an advertising campaign applauding Del Piero on Friday, proclaiming on full pages in leading newspapers that “a knight never leaves a lady.”

Del Piero, whose contract expired this summer, suffered an injury late last month during Juve’s league match against AS Roma. The regular national team player is expected back on the field in November.

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