Why Did David Beckham Leave Manchester United? Beckham’s departure from Manchester United stemmed from his relationship with Alex Ferguson, which deteriorated significantly.

Sir Alex revealed in his autobiography in 2013 that he felt Beckham’s focus on football was disrupted by other activities. He also believed that the player thought he was bigger than the manager.

While claiming not to hold “any grudge” against Beckham, Ferguson was clear in his assessment of the player: “David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, and his mission seemed to be to be known outside the game.”

The legendary Scottish manager added: “When a Manchester United player thinks he is bigger than the manager, he has to go… David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson. In my mind, there is no doubt about that.”

In fact, Beckham later admitted that he didn’t help himself, acknowledging that his behavior contributed to the breakdown of the relationship. “There were decisions I made back then that were wrong, and I can understand why the manager got so upset,” he said in an interview with the BBC in 2017.

After going through the ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ era with the Class of 1992 at the Red Devils, Beckham became a football icon, with his appeal extending beyond the realm of the beautiful game.

The English star married one of the Spice Girls – Victoria, known as ‘Posh Spice’ – and his face became popular on TV, billboards, magazines, and commercial partners lined up to have him endorse their products.

Ferguson, who had guided Beckham from his early steps, became increasingly disappointed with the player’s career path, which he believed was “swallowed up by the media or advertising agents.”

The pair began to clash, and issues ranged from disputes over wearing a woolly hat at team dinners (to hide Beckham’s new haircut) to an incident involving a thrown boot.

How Did Alex Ferguson Throw a Boot at Beckham? The famous boot-throwing incident between David Beckham and Alex Ferguson was perhaps one of the quirkiest details leading to Beckham’s departure from Manchester United.

Ferguson publicly stated that Beckham’s work rate had declined in the 2002-03 season and, when he criticized the midfielder’s performance in the 0-2 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup, it led to a bizarre moment.

While reprimanding the team and specifically Beckham, United’s manager angrily kicked a boot toward the England captain, hitting him on the forehead.

“He was about 4m away from me,” Ferguson recalled in his autobiography. “Between us on the floor was a row of boots. David swore. I moved towards him, and as I approached, I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye.

“Of course, he rose to have a go at me, and the players stopped him. ‘Sit down,’ I said. ‘You’ve let your team down. You can argue as much as you like.'”

Beckham, of course, refused to back down, and he later appeared with strategically placed bandages, his long hair tied back tactically to ensure a full unveiling for the awaiting journalists.

How Much Did Manchester United Sell David Beckham to Real Madrid For? Real Madrid paid €35 million to Manchester United to buy David Beckham. The deal was initially €20 million plus add-ons.

The midfielder joined Los Blancos on a four-year contract with an annual salary of around €6 million and expressed happiness at the move.

In a press release, Beckham said: “I know I would always regret it in my life if I didn’t give myself the chance to play at another big club like Real Madrid.”

Interestingly, Beckham later explained that he knew Manchester United intended to sell him to Barcelona despite his desire, and this determination prompted him to push for a move to Real Madrid.