  Galactic globular clusters harbour binary systems that are detected as faint
X-ray sources. These close binaries are thought to play an important role in
the stability of the clusters by liberating energy and delaying the inevitable
core collapse of globular clusters. The inventory of close binaries and their
identification is therefore essential. We present XMM-Newton observations of
two Galactic globular clusters: NGC 2808 and NGC 4372. We use X-ray spectral
and variability analysis combined with ultra-violet observations made with the
XMM-Newton optical monitor and published data from the Hubble Space Telescope
to identify sources associated with the clusters. We compare the results of our
observations with estimates from population synthesis models. Five sources out
of 96 are likely to be related to NGC 2808. Nine sources are found in the field
of view of NGC 4372, none being located inside its half-mass radius. We find
one quiescent neutron star low mass X-ray binary candidate in the core of NGC
2808, and propose that the majority of the central sources in NGC 2808 are
cataclysmic variables. An estimation leads to ~20+/-10 cataclysmic variables
with luminosity above 4.25 x 10^31 erg s^-1. Millisecond pulsars could also be
present in the core of NGC 2808, and some sources outside of the half-mass
radius could possibly be linked to the cluster.
