David Beckham is likely to be heading for the US ahead of schedule after Real Madrid's coach Fabio Capello insisted the Englishman would not play another game for the club.

Beckham's representatives have been infuriated by Capello's public dismissal of the 31-year-old and want talks with Madrid officials, but they recognise that the 2-0 defeat in La Coruna the previous Sunday will almost certainly prove to have been his last game in a white shirt and are keen to broker an early move to California.

Beckham had expected to see out the remaining six months of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu in one last attempt for an honour in Spain before joining Los Angeles Galaxy in August in the run-up to MLS play-offs.

Instead, his ostracism in Madrid is set to accelerate the move, with the Galaxy coach Frank Yallop last night admitting that he would welcome Beckham arriving for the start of the American season in April, if a deal could be struck to release him from his contract at Madrid.

"It would be nice (to have Beckham in the US ahead of schedule)," Yallop said. "But we have to wait and see what the details of his (Madrid) contract are, and whether he can get out of it."

MLS spokesman Stephen Rodriguez said: "It would be in (Galaxy owners) AEG's and LA Galaxy's best interests to buy out the rest of his contract. If it were just a case of buying out his contract then absolutely they would do it."

After Capello's declaration on Saturday, Beckham attended Madrid's match with Zaragoza last night - which Real Madrid won 1-0 - and will report for training at Valdebebas as normal this morning. Despite that very public and thought-through display of commitment to Madrid, an early departure now appears the logical solution for all parties.

But striking a deal will be far from straightforward. Alerted by the sheer size of Beckham's American package, Madrid will expect some recompense for allowing him to depart early, even though they could find themselves paying him 4.5 million more just for training with the club between now and July, when his contract expires. Certainly, Madrid will not contemplate paying off his contract to allow him to leave sooner. In the midst of a sporting and institutional crisis, they are determined to be seen to be acting with an iron fist.

Madrid are adamant that if Beckham, who stalled over contract negotiations before deciding to move, wants to break his current deal he will have to pay a heavy price.

Although Beckham's camp have not yet had time to analyse the situation fully or talk to Madrid, with the player's manager currently in the US, they will not countenance buying him out of his Madrid contract. They would also reject a loan move to any other club.

That leaves two options - either Galaxy strike a loan deal with Madrid in which they pay the rest of Beckham's salary; or they, in conjunction with the MLS, offer a transfer fee to sign him now, buying him out of his contract. Keen to secure a cash windfall, Madrid prefer the latter option and are prepared for Beckham to be a high-profile outcast if needs be, despite the problems that could cause the club.

In the wake of his decision to join Galaxy, Beckham was made to train apart from his team-mates in a closed-door session on Friday morning, but his ostracism did not become public until Saturday, when Capello was asked what role the Englishman would play in his final six months at the club. The response could hardly have been clearer.

Beckham has insisted that he would "continue to give 100 per cent to Real Madrid", but the under-pressure Italian coach is unconvinced.

"We can't count on him and we won't count on him because he has committed himself to another club," Capello said. "Let's make this clear - a player that has such an important contract with another club can't play for us. He will not play. He will train with us, but he is not going to play."

Capello's remarks surprised many at the club who did not expect him to express himself with such clarity in public and also do not share his perspective.

Beckham's camp, too, were surprised. They were angered by Capello's declarations, which also put paid to erroneous suggestions that Beckham and the club had come to an agreement that he would not play so as to avoid injury.

Beckham's people could not understand why Capello's intentions were not expressed to them during negotiations at the Bernabeu on Thursday, and consider it a lack of respect to have found out through a press conference.

They are surprised Madrid would wish to risk damaging both their image and dressingroom harmony by casting out Beckham when he could still be a useful member of the squad.

Beckham's representatives now expect Madrid to explain their position face to face, before taking a definitive decision.

But Beckham's days in Madrid are numbered.

Guardian Service