Deco told The Daily Mirror: “He has shown he is still among the best in the world and as an opponent it is good for us that he is leaving! Beckham is so good technically and has shown a terrific commitment and desire to come back to his best.
“He has given Real Madrid something extra special in the past few months. He has shown strength of character to come back so well for the team.
“He is a brilliant player, someone who I admire and he has been very good for Real Madrid. His passing, crossing and work-rate make him really special.
“He’s shown he is still a world-class player. In England, Italy and Spain, he’s among the very best. I admire him a lot. But Real Madrid are our rivals and we must make sure we do everything to win the title.”