Real Madrid deserved Spanish league title win, says Beckham

MADRID (AFP) — Real Madrid fully deserved their second consecutive Spanish league title win, Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, who left the club last year, said on Saturday in an interview.

Asked by Spanish sports daily Marca if he still keeps track of his former team, the former England skipper said: "Of course man, and I am very glad for all my former team-mates at Madrid."

"They have dominated the league and are the clear winners," the 33-year-old added.

Real won their 31st championship on May 4 with a 2-1 win over Osasuna. It was the first time that they won back-to-back titles since 1990.

The club's next match was against arch rivals FC Barcelona who according to tradition honoured the new champions as the squad entered the Bernabeu pitch in Madrid.

It was the first time in 20 years that Barcelona formed the passage of honour for their rivals - Real rubbed salt into their wounds by thrashing them 4-1.

"For Barca to form the corridor for them at the Bernabeu must have been a really strange feeling for the players," said Beckham.

Beckham joined Galaxy in July 2007 after spending four seasons at Real Madrid on a 250-million-dollar, five-year contract.

Real's last match of the season is set for Sunday but it is in doubt as players from Levante have announced they will strike unless they are paid money owed to them dating back to last season.