I was really hoping Madrid would turn the corner in the post-Galactico era and start behaving like a proper football club. But the treatment of Beckham and the insane sacking of Fabio Capello after he won them La Liga suggest otherwise. Capello was the first Madrid manager in years to instill what looked like genuine team spirit in the side, especially with all those dramatic comebacks late in the season. But recent events in the post Capello era indicate that the famous team are in for another few years of madness.

Consider two recent quotes. In their demented chase after Kaka, new coach Bernd Schuster said "We've got a big fat suitcase full of cash, and there will definitely be a player or two to come." Not a smart comment.

Even worse forSchuster, he doesn't seem to be the one in charge of deciding who that suitcase gets spent on. After expressing an admiration for fellow Deutschlander Michael Ballack, a Madrid executive cut Schuster down to size with this very Real Madrid quote: "He is the coach, not the one who makes the decisions at the club. We do not plan to make an offer."