Real sold 8,000 shirts on the day he joined... yesterday it was one

The club shop sold 8,000 replica shirts bearing his name on the day he signed in 2003. Yesterday the number they sold could be counted on one hand.

Fans of the Spanish giants, who claim they and not Beckham's former club Manchester United have the largest number of supporters worldwide, just don't care about him any more.

"We've sold one or two shirts. I guess they were people who want souvenirs of his time here," said Maria, who works at Real's threestorey souvenir shop next to the Bernabeu stadium.

"There is no discount on his shirts yet but there might be soon," she added, with a nod to the fact that January sales fever is as big in Spain as it is in Britain. Beckham's face and name have almost disappeared from Real Madrid publicity since Thursday, when he announced he was signing for Los Angeles Galaxy.

His shirts no longer adorn mannequins in the shop and are gathering dust in a corner on the top floor.

Two nine-year-old Real fans, Tomas and Sergio, were in the shop yesterday, deciding whether to spend £43 on a shirt sporting the name of Real's Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro.

"He's the World Player of the Year after all," said Tomas, reflecting on an honour Beckham has never won and is now never likely to.

"David Beckham? I wouldn't buy his shirt now," said Sergio.

"I'd rather buy something with Gago or Higuain (Real's two new signings from Argentina) on it. They have just arrived and Beckham's going. We don't care about him now."