Real allowed Beckham to go.

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello has confirmed David Beckham's trip to Rome was sanctioned by the club - and that the former England captain had returned to training by Saturday morning.

Beckham travelled to Italy with wife Victoria on Friday to attend a pre-nuptial dinner with Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, who married in nearby Bracciano on Saturrday.

It had initially been suggested the former England captain had defied Real in order to make the trip, while later reports declared the club had given him the green light to go.

Capello confirmed following the Primera Liga match with Racing Santander that Beckham had indeed been given permission to go to Italy.

The Italian coach also said the midfielder had been at the club's training ground that morning to continue his recovery from the knee injury which ruled him out of the Racing match.

"Beckham was in Rome with the permission of the club," said Capello.

"This morning he has been at Real Madrid City. We game him permission to travel, because the doctor said he could.

"He has not missed a single minute of his rehabilitation."

The midfielder did not attend the wedding ceremony between Cruise and Holmes, with his wife representing the couple in his absence.

Whether this whole episode will affect Beckham's future at Real Madrid remains to be seen.

He has yet to sign a new contract with Real - and with his current four-year deal running out next summer, he will be free to talk to other clubs in January.