Barcelona presidential election: Joan Laporta was last night elected president of Barcelona, clearing the first hurdle in his attempt to sign England captain David Beckham from Manchester United.

The 40-year-old Catalan lawyer turned a 40 per cent deficit against the favourite, Lluis Bassat, into victory in the space of just over six weeks. And the first call Laporta will make this morning will be to Beckham's representative Tony Stephens.

Laporta will suggest that a meeting is arranged in London on Wednesday and will also prepare to make Beckham the highest-paid player in the world in a bid to beat off interest from Real Madrid.

Beckham's salary would be between £8-9million per season with added image-right payments based on the value Beckham would return in terms of marketing, merchandising, broadcast rights and sponsorship contracts to the club.

Laporta is keenly aware that in the conversation he has with Beckham the fact that Barcelona do not have Champions League football to offer next season must be compensated for.

The drama will develop when it becomes clear to Laporta and his right-hand man, Sandro Rosell, that Madrid are in pole position with the player and Manchester United following detailed discussions between the two clubs over the last few days.

Laporta also intends to ask Johan Cruyff to intervene in order to persuade Beckham that greatness lies in rebuilding a stricken club, as the Dutchman did 30 years ago, rather than becoming just another star at Madrid.

While Beckham has made it clear privately that Barcelona hold only the most minute chance of persuading him, two extraordinary factors will now come into play. First Laporta's remarkable powers of persuasion will be turned full beam on Beckham and then the player himself will have his first experience of formally talking to a club that covets his signature since moving to Preston on loan at the beginning of his career. The effect will be interesting to monitor.

Yesterday's election was supposed to be a walkover for Bassat, the publicity magnate who, ironically, had found himself swamped by the media campaign run by team Laporta. Bassat, a man with a bullish physique, has known for some time his sure thing had become a potential defeat and having taken 15 changes of shirt to the polling station on such a scorching day he had been through five of them by half past two.

Yet as far as buying Beckham is concerned, Laporta's problems have only just started. Indications are Real Madrid, who will be startled and unhappy at their favoured candidate, Bassat, not winning, believe they have a firm commitment from the player and from the board at Old Trafford to complete the transfer.

Laporta knew it was unlikely that Beckham would sign, but equally understood that if he could make it evident that his plans were based on solidity, not hot air, then the Beckham-effect might win him the PR battle.

As he said: "The important thing is that the future of Barcelona has been decided by a passionate campaign and a good turn-out - the members have spoken."