David Beckham played down hopes he could play in England's opening US tour match despite being ruled out of Real Madrid's final game of the season.

The England captain was booked in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid, and will now be suspended for Real's last match with Real Zaragoza.

That could leave him free to play against the US in Chicago on 28 May.

But he said: "As far as I am concerned I will be spending the week with Real. I wanted to play in the Zaragoza game."

Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo added: "I'm going to have to talk to Beckham next week because the season has not ended yet.

"Then we will decide whether or not to release him (for the tour)."

Beckham sparked controversy earlier this season when he admitted he deliberately got booked in a World Cup qualifier against Wales so he could serve a suspension while injured.

But he added of his latest yellow card: "I didn't get booked deliberately. I would never do that. It would never have been a yellow card in England."

England's second match of the tour is against Colombia on 31 May, by which time Beckham's club-mate Michael Owen will also be available.