"At the start of last season I would never have imagined that I would be now pulling on a Real Madrid jersey but my future is here now," said Beckham on Real Madrid TV, the club's own television station.

He also wanted to assure Real Madrid fans that he intends keeping his eye on the ball off the pitch as well as on it, especially given his status as a fashion icon.

"I've no problem with that side of my life. Sure, things get a bit crazy in Asia but I have a strong and supportive family and every day I return home and lead a normal life.

"I even go to the supermarket. Some people are surprised to see me buying fruit but I like doing these sort of things. Will I go to a supermarket in Madrid? Of course. I like doing normal things so Real Madrid fans can relax, coming here will not affect my play," Beckham assured his new followers.

The midfielder also refuted suggestions that he had been planning to leave Manchester United for several months.

Beckham had played for the English Premiership champions for his entire professional career -- apart from five games on loan at lower division Preston North End -- until Monday night when he signed the legal documents that made his a Real Madrid player.

"Six or seven months ago, I started to hear rumours about my future. Up until then everything had been going fine, but it became clear that I was going to leave United was only two or three weeks ago," commented Beckham.

"When I started to look at things, it became clear that if I was to leave Manchester then it would be for Real Madrid," added the 28-year-old player.

Beckham tried to bury the hatchet with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose deteriorating relationship with the player was well-known to be Beckham's main motivation for leaving Old Trafford.

"You have ups-and-downs with your boss, just like at any work. He gave me the opportunity to start my career and play many years at Manchester United and that was fundamental to my sporting career. He was something like a father-figure and for that I will always be grateful.

"However, great clubs always carry on and my life is here now."

Beckham joins the Spanish champions, and nine times kings of Europe, on a four-year contract worth an estimated six million euros a year before bonuses.

Real will pay Manchester United up to 35 million euros, the exact figure depends on the Spanish team's progress in the Champions League in the next four years, for the midfielder.

He was presented with a Real Madrid No 23 shirt by the club's honorary president and legendary striker Alfredo Di Stefano.

The number was vacant last season but club sources told reporters that the number was chosen because it is associated with the basketball legend Michael Jordan.

After Di Stefano and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, the first player to welcome Beckham was Luis Figo, who many thought would be displaced by Beckham as both men traditionally play down the right flank.

"His arrival means that we have a stronger team. I only hope he will be happy because that will be better for all of us," said the Portuguese international, who won the 2000 FIFA World Player of the Year award when Beckham finished second.

Figo discounted that possibility that there would be any rivalry between him and Real's new arrival for the role as the right winger in the starting line-up.

"There is always compatability if people have the same objective. This happens at Madrid because, with or without Beckham, with or without Figo, everyone here has the same objective," added Figo, who knows well the pressure that Beckham will face in the coming months.

In July 2000, Figo not only joined Real from bitter rivals Barcelona but did so for what was then a world record transfer fee of 61.7 million euros.

Beckham is reported to be looking forward to meeting Figo as he is known to be quite friendly with him because of the fact that they have appeared in several of the same advertising campaigns, and also because Figo speaks good English.