Beckham bidding Real Madrid adieu?

Madrid: David Beckham is still in negotiations with Real Madrid about a new contract.

Beckham's spokesman Simon Oliveira said on Wednesday that talks would resume this week. He spoke shortly after comments by Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic led to confusion over the 31-year-old midfielder's future.

''There's still a written offer on the table from Real Madrid,'' Oliveira said. ''We have a meeting in the next 48 hours.''

Mijatovic's remarks to Italian TV station Sky TG 24 led to doubt over whether Madrid's decision was final or whether talks were still alive.

Some news media quoted Mijatovic as saying, ''Beckham will leave us, we will not renew his contract.'' However, that did not reflect the exact words broadcast in the Italian interview and translated by the AP.

The interviewer asked: ''Will Beckham's contract be renewed?''

Mijatovic replied: ''No, Beckham's contract was not renewed.''

Madrid said it wasn't aware of Mijatovic's remarks, while the sports director said his words had been mistranslated.

Beckham's four-year contract expires at the end of this season.

The club wants the former England captain to decide by next week whether he will accept a two-year contract extension.

Beckham, who joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2003, has been stalling on the offer due to his lack of first-team opportunities under coach Fabio Capello this season. He has started only seven of 25 matches.

Adding to speculation about his future, Beckham was left off Madrid's squad to play a Copa del Rey match against Real Betis on Thursday.

Capello was expected to make changes following a dismal run in which Madrid has lost three of its last four games.

But Beckham's omission for Thursday's game appears to back reports that Capello has asked the club not to renew his contract. Capello reportedly views Beckham as the third choice for the right-sided midfield slot, behind captain Raul Gonzalez and Jose Antonio Reyes.

Oliveira recently said that Madrid's offer was slightly bigger than his current contract. He said the player was taking his time because it was ''the last significant deal of his football career.''

Beckham is allowed to negotiate with other clubs during the January transfer window and can leave with Madrid's permission.

Beckham has been linked to a possible return to the Premier League, a move to Italy or a jump to Major League Soccer in the United States, with the Los Angeles Galaxy reportedly interested.

''There have been discussions between AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) and David Beckham's representatives,'' MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche said. ''However, David Beckham has not signed a contract to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy at this time.''

Beckham has a soccer academy in Los Angeles. His wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, was recently photographed house-hunting in Los Angeles.

MLS recently changed its rules on salary caps, and that would allow Beckham to sign a lucrative deal.

Beckham hasn't won a major trophy since joining Madrid.