But Raul, reportedly in trouble last week when he allegedly slammed the decision to axe coach Vicente Del Bosque plus veteran defender Fernando Hierro, believes the former Manchester United player can help Real win even more trophies.

"Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo are other players in the dressing room. That's what's best about this team. Beckham knows it and that will be positive for him," Raul told the Sun newspaper.

"He'll help us a lot but if the rest of us do not play our part we won't win any titles.

"Contrary to what many say, Real are a unit. Individual brilliance is always a last resort.

"It was claimed we couldn't fail with Ronaldo and the others but we've stumbled in Europe and in Spain. Now they're saying the same about Beckham but we'll have to be very focused on the pitch.

"From the news I have he's a regular bloke who won't have any difficulty adapting.

"We'll simply help him, like any new player who comes into the squad. No footballer is treated differently, whatever he's called. Beckham has enough charisma to win over the fans quickly. All he needs to do is to show his class on the pitch."

Real have broken the world transfer record twice in the last three years with the signings of first Portuguese star Luis Figo and then Zidane for 72 million euros (72 million dollars).

And last year they spent 45 million euros (45 million dollars) on Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, despite a recession-hit transfer market.

Raul expects Becks and his popstar wife Victoria to adapt to life in Spain.

"It's not for me to give anybody advice about their private life. But Beckham and his wife will win over the people if they keep on doing what they have so far. Why do they need to change? In England they're much-loved.

"We'll try and mould David to Spanish lifestyle quickly and yes, if necessary, we'll invite him to eat paella."

Raul dismissed reports of a potential dispute over his No 7 shirt.

"A lot of fuss has been made. There's an internal rule here which says that new players are given numbers which are free. That's a fact and Beckham confirmed it in Asia."

Fears that Beckham would have to compete with Figo for a place in the Real Madrid team next season were dispelled by new Real coach Carlos Queiroz last week.

Queiroz, Beckham's coach at Manchester United where he was deputy to Alex Ferguson, is considering switching Beckham to central midfield so Figo can continue on the right-hand side.

Beckham was used on the right by United manager Alex Ferguson.

Figo said he did not feel threatened by Beckham.

"I always welcome the opportunity of playing with the best," he told the Portuguese daily A Bola.

"Queiroz has not given me any assurances. I'll play for my place in the side. I don't look upon myself as one of the bosses at Real. I've only ever said I was the one who decided on my future, nobody else."

Beckham will cost Real 35 million euros if they are successful.

They are to receive 5.25 million pounds (7.5 million euros) on completion of Beckham's transfer and 12 million pounds (17 million euros) in instalments over next four years.

A further seven million pounds (10 million euros) will be based on Real's performances in the money-spinning Champions League -- 875,000 pounds (1.25 million euros) every year they qualify, 875,000 pounds every year they reach the quarter-finals.

Beckham's debut for Real in an official match should be on the holiday island of Majorca.

Real Mallorca were confirmed as Real's Super Cup opponents at the weekend when they defeated Huelva 3-0 in the Spanish Cup final.

Precedent dictates the cup winners play the first match of the two-legged tie at home, meaning Beckham will return from Real's four-match tour of the Far East then head off to Palma for an August 16 match.

The second leg of the game, likely to be played a week later after Beckham has turned out for his country in the August 20 friendly with Croatia, will be his first appearance for Real at the Bernabeu.

The England skipper is then expected to launch his Spanish League career the following weekend.

All this depends on Beckham passing a medical on Wednesday.

The England captain will be flown into El Torrejon, a military airport once used by the US Airforce, so that he can be met by a car on the runway. He will then be whisked away by police escort to the Bernabeu for his medical.

Beckham's medical will be filmed by Real Madrid TV and the live rights auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Japanese television companies are understood to have expressed the most interest.

Following his medical, Beckham will be presented at the Raimundo Saporta hall, the gymnasium of Madrid's basketball team which has a 5,000-strong capacity, in a ceremony will will take place in Spanish, English and Japanese.