Former Manchester United star David Beckham has revealed how the Red Devil’s had agreed to sell him to Barcelona in 2003.
The former England skipper eventually joined Real Madrid for a fee of €35 million after winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League with United.
However, Beckham revealed that the Red Devils had agreed a deal with Barcelona without even informing him, although he was adamant that he would only leave for the Bernabeu.
“There was never any revenge. I was hurt and angry at the time at how the situation had gone because throughout the season I was left out of certain games but never thought it would lead to me leaving.” Beckham said.
“But I had heard rumours I might be sold. I was holiday in the States with Victoria and one of my friends called and told me it was on Sky Sports that United had agreed terms with Barcelona. I said ‘that wasn’t right, I don’t know anything about it’.”
“I then flew back to London. I tried to speak to Peter Kenyon and tried to speak to the manager and he said ‘no’. I said ‘well I need to speak to him and understand what is going on’. He said ‘it’s true, we have agreed a deal’.”
“That is when I spoke to my agent and said ‘if I am going to move, I’m going to move to Madrid’. Within a day, I was sat with the president of Madrid and we agreed that is where I was going to go.”
Beckham’s relationship had starined with Sir Alex Ferguson by 2003, as David admits that he never wanted to leave Old Trafford.
“I didn’t watch Manchester United for three years [after leaving].” he added.
“I was shocked and devastated because we had just won the league that season.”
“[Without a doubt I wanted to retire at Old Trafford] Because Manchester United were my team. I had no aspirations to leave United.”