Real Madrid are continuing to send out mixed messages about the possible signing of David Beckham.
Madrid`s players, led by captain Fernando Hierro, are attempting to ignore the immense speculation surrounding the England captain before the derby with Atletico, while the club`s directors are doing little to deny the rumours.
Hierro insists the transfer talk is disrupting to players as they prepare to resume their race with Real Sociedad for the Primera Liga title.
He said: "I can see no reason why Beckham could be important to Madrid between now and the end of the season.
"I would prefer to speak about the players who are around me now. They are the ones who are important at the moment."
Spanish midfielder Guti, one of the players whose place could be threatened by Beckham, said: "I'm not annoyed people are speaking about Beckham, but I don't think it shows respect to those of us who are playing for the league."
However, Real`s director of sport Jorge Valdano has done little to stop tongues wagging by revealing his previous declarations over Beckham should not necessarily be taken at face value.
He recently told Canal Plus: "You have to avoid the truth on many occasions in this job. To do the job well implies hiding information sometimes.
"I don't lie much, but on many occasions I say nothing."
Madrid have issued an official denial of any interest in Beckham, but Valdano has kept the rumour mill turning by insisting the club would not announce any signings until the end of the season.
Valdano was typically ambiguous when he appeared on Spanish TV and implied that Beckham was a Madrid target.
"There are icons in football and Beckham is one of them," he said, before suggesting Beckham would provide a north European balance to the Madrid team.
"We have a lot of 'south' in our side; we have Ronaldo, Zidane with his Arab blood, Argentinians, Spanish and in general a lot of representation from the Latin world.
"Beckham is the north. I think that at the moment, he is a compliment to the other ingredients that would be especially attractive - especially to the media," he said.