Real Madrid’s onfield summer marketing operation swung into action as the nine-times European champions headed out to the United States for two friendlies in Seattle and Salt Lake City.

Following a month’s post-World Cup break, England star David Beckham was in the party, as was new 15 million euros (20 million dollars) signing from Manchester United Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former Beckham clubmate.

Brazilian star Ronaldo, however, will not make the trip as he is recovering from an operation on his left tibia and only returned to training last week, a fortnight after going under the surgeon’s knife.

Another missing name is combative midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who joined 18 months ago from Everton, but who is now looking for a new club after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Spanish club and who came to blows with Brazilian Robinho earlier this month at Real’s Austrian training camp.

Gravesen in any case looked headed for the exit with Real having just signed Brazilian Emerson from Juventus, as well as Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.

The club are still hoping to sign Arsenal’s Spanish international star Jose Antonio Reyes and Marca sports daily reported that the move could materialise if Real offer the Gunners Brazilian midfielder Baptista in part exchange.

Real are also after Malian international midfielder Mahamadou Diarra of French champions Lyon, who would cost them upwards of 25 million euros.

Real, who have brought in coach Fabio Capello for a second spell at the club to stop the rot of three years without a trophy, were due to fly to Salt Lake City with a short stopoff in Canada before heading north to Seattle for a Wednesday friendly with DC United.

Thereafter, Beckham and company will fly back to Salt Lake for a Saturday encounter with local outfit Real Salt Lake.

Real will fly back straight after the game as they have to prepare for a four-team pre-season tournament in the southern Spanish city of Cadiz where they will meet Brazilian side Flamengo, top flight Spanish side Betis and second devision Cadiz.

“Capello has been putting us through our paces already,” Cannavaro said ahead of the trip across the Atlantic.

Real’s bitter rivals, European and Spanish champions Barcelona, have also been boosting their US profile and a record crowd of 92,650 saw the Catalan club draw 1-1 with Mexico’s Chivas on Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Diego Martinez rescued a draw for Chivas after new signing from Chelsea, Iceland captain Eidur Gudjohnsen, had netted for Barca.

Barca’s US tour continues Wednesday in Houston against another Mexican club, America, and concludes Saturday against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Spanish league season kicks off on August 27 when Real face Villarreal and Barcelona travel to Celta Vigo.

Source:Soccer News