By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer |
Ferguson engineered Beckham's farewell |
David Beckham celebrated his �25m move to Real Madrid with a money-spinning promotional tour of the Far East - after all, business is business.
Beckham knows the value of cashing in when stock is high, and the same values were applied at Old Trafford when they decided to sell their most high-profile player.
It is also why the shots being aimed in the direction of Manchester United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson for their supposed "abysmal" treatment of England's sporting icon are wide of the mark.
United received a perfectly acceptable offer for a 28-year-old whose contract was running down, and who falls just short of the truly world-class stratosphere occupied by new team-mates Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
It makes sense to agree when they are discussing a player who is not even crucial to their future plans. Beckham is an outstanding player but not a great one.
Ferguson and United's power brokers have behaved in a perfectly acceptable manner, albeit within the slightly twisted framework of football's morals.
And if they jumped into bed with Barcelona's president-elect Joan Laporta to get where they wanted, it is only because football is now ruled by business.
If they are guilty of one crime, it is that they have been slickly outmanouevred by Beckham's publicity machine, who have made their client look a grievously injured party.
Beckham was, the world was told, desperate to stay at Old Trafford and was being shoved through the door with indecent haste.
United stayed silent, only confirming they had done a deal with Barcelona.
And when they finally let it slip that Beckham had declined to discuss a new contract in March, the damage had been done.
Those who choose to paint United as the villains of the piece cruelly throwing a favourite son out of the family home may wish to study the apparent speed of Beckham's agreement with Real.
And if "abysmal" treatment is being transferred to the world's most successful and glamorous club on a contract worth �90,000-a-week, 99% of football's population would have a slice of that.
Beckham is not the first footballer to be sold without his total consent and he will not be the last.
This is simply the way of life in a game that has become big business. Marketable assets have a price and Beckham has his.
This is not abysmal treatment, this is football's new reality.
Ferguson and Manchester United knew the prospect was looming of Beckham allowing the clock to tick on his next deal and it was time to cash in.
The team had proved, to an extent, that he was not indispensable.
It was clear Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes were more influential footballing figures in the Old Trafford pantheon.
Beckham will not be the best player at Real - but it will not be a shock because he was not the best player at United.
He deserves total respect for his career at United and for his hugely professional attitude. He is also a very good player.
Beckham has played his part in Manchester United's history and will be fondly remembered, but never in the same breath as Best, Law, Charlton or Cantona.
They all departed Old Trafford and life has moved on. Beckham is merely the latest name on that list.
And Sir Alex Ferguson will say, quite rightly, it is because business is business.
MMIX
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