Hong Kong, Aug 08: Real Madrid has apologised for the unexpected cancellation of a practice session in Hong Kong, a move that kept thousands of fans waiting for hours in sweltering heat on Wednesday. "It was a misunderstanding," said club president Florentino Perez, explaining at a news conference the session had not been on the team's schedule. Organisers who had arranged for about 1,000 spectators to watch the training were not immediately available for comment. Real had dismayed fans by failing to show up at the city's main soccer stadium after arriving late from Tokyo. Organisers said at the time the players were too tired. But local television later showed footage of them, including David Beckham, visiting nightspots, dogged by hordes of fans seeking autographs and pictures. "We treasure Hong Kong fans," Perez said. "We hope you are not disappointed because of the misunderstanding."


"We want to win the hearts of the people in Hong Kong and China," he added.


There was another glitch on Thursday morning when Real appeared over an hour late for the open training session which was on their schedule. But boos turned into cheers as Beckham and the rest of the team finally strode on to the pitch in front of 30,000 fans, some of whom had waited overnight to watch Real practise before an exhibition match on Friday against a Hong Kong Select XI.


Beckham, mobbed everywhere, said: "It's something that we're all used to and I'm used to now. You know I've had it for quite a few years now."


Friday's game is the latest stop in Real Madrid's first Asian tour, which ends in Bangkok, as they seek to crack the lucrative Far East market.


Perez also told Thursday's news conference that Real planned to open a soccer training school in Shanghai.

In sharp contrasts with the arrangements for the day before, some of Real Madrid’s most celebrated players attended a news conference on Thursday.


Beckham, who scored his maiden goal for the team on Tuesday, said he was looking forward to his first season with the Spanish club.


"Expectations is to win every trophy that we go in for. I think we have a great squad of players. Expectations for the year is to win every trophy possible," said a tired-looking Beckham.


The team, especially Beckham, has been mobbed by screaming fans and paparazzi since their arrival in the territory.


Beckham said he didn't mind being in the spotlight after years of being constantly followed.


"It's something that we are all used to and that I am used to Real Madrid top scorer Ronaldo said he was ready to get back into action after spending months to recover from injuries.


Real Madrid, on the third stop of its Asian tour, is taking on the Hong Kong team on Friday. It beat China Dragon team 4-0 in Beijing over the weekend and then FC Tokyo 3-0 on Tuesday.


Bureau Report