Manchester United legend Gary Neville admits he was ‘relieved’ when his pal David Beckham was sold to Real Madrid
Becks moved to Real Madrid in 2003 after his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson turned sour following boot in the face from old United boss after Arsenal defeat
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville reveals he was “relieved” when David Beckham left Old Trafford.
Becks was sold to Real Madrid in 2003 after a turbulent final season which included the infamous dressing room bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson after losing at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Neville, who has remained close friends with Becks from their time together at the United academy, opened up about his mate’s departure from Old Trafford.
Neville told : “I knew it was coming to an end a little bit from the previous 12 months.
“I was aware of the things that were going on behind the scenes.
“I was probably relieved a little bit. For him, for the club – it could never end badly, that relationship.
“David had done so much for the club and the club had done so much for David.
“I was disappointed when he left but I was also disappointed when Nicky Butt left. I was disappointed when my brother left, I was disappointed when Roy Keane left and I was disappointed when Denis Irwin left.
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“They were a massive part of our lives and our careers at United.
“It wasn’t just the lads around me – David, Phil and Nicky and such like. When a player of that magnitude left there was a void. They’re a big miss.
“To be honest with you, at the time ‘sad’ probably wasn’t the right word.”
The former United full-back, who spent his entire career at Old Trafford, went on to say his mate was always keen to explore new horizons and experience playing football on the Continent.
Neville added: “He always harboured this hope of playing abroad, I think, and playing in European football.
“Looking at what he’s done in his career now – playing at Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, it’s a great career.
“You can’t look at it and think that he was wrong. He’s richer for those experiences.
“His time had probably come at United where he was right to leave.
“There was a bit of me that was relieved that that tension, that little bit of an underlying thing that was there had gone.
“He was a brilliant player and I loved playing with him.”