Luis Figo says he'd rather play on the left wing than be left out to accommodate David Beckham's move to Real Madrid.

The Portuguese star has made the right side of midfield position his own since swapping Barcelona for the Bernebeu for a then world-record fee of ￡37million in 2000.

But Figo, currently with Real on their promotional tour of the Far East, admitted he just wants to keep playing.

He said: "I'll have to adapt to the position the coach wants. I have no problem with that."

Coach Carlos Queiroz gave a hint of Madrid's line-up next season during a training session at the team's base in China by selecting Beckham for Figo's customary right-wing role, and moving the Portuguese to the left.

"I don't know what position I'll play in," Figo said. "If I play on the left it will be because I have to adapt to the team's needs.

"The position isn't strange because I have played on the left with Portugal. What's important is the team."

Beckham's arrival from Manchester United for ￡25m last month cast doubt over Figo's future at the club. But Queiroz, who left his post as No.2 at Old Trafford to replace Vicente del Bosque shortly after Beckham had left, has the advantage of knowing Figo well, as the scout who discovered him as a teenager in Portugal.

The first match of Madrid's 18-day tour is against the Dragon Team in Beijing on Saturday, when Beckham is expected to make his much-anticipated debut in the No.23 shirt. They then play FC Tokyo next Tuesday, China three days later and Thailand on August 10.

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has admitted he is still in awe of his Manchester United team-mates' hunger for success.

Ferdinand collected his first major honour last term as United reclaimed their Premiership title after appearing to be out of contention for much of the campaign.

Apart from justifying his British record ￡29.3m move from Leeds, it also provided the 24-year-old with an insight into the insatiable desire at Old Trafford.

"You look around at the number of players at this club who have won so many trophies in their careers," said Ferdinand, "and you see the hunger for success is still as strong as when they were 18."

"You can't help but be impressed by that and I feel exactly the same way. The championship win was fantastic, but it means nothing now because the next goal is to try and win it again."

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