Not a word for 2 months
Warring David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson have not spoken to each other for two months, The Sun can reveal. The silent struggle between Manchester United’s star player and the team’s fiery boss was disclosed by Beckham’s dad Ted yesterday. It has led to Fergie, 61, agreeing to sell 28-year-old Becks to Barcelona behind his back. Emotional Ted, 53, said: " It’s ridiculous all this happens just because Fergie doesn’t like my son any more."
Thomas Whitaker, The Sun
Deal opens the door
Joan Laporta is leading the Barcelona presidential election race - thanks to the Beckham effect. Laporta, the penultimate candidate to enter the campaign, began as an unfancied dark horse. But now the youngest of the six remaining competitors - and the only one who has put forward a modernising campaign - has surged ahead in the polls and is three percentage points in front of early favourite Lluis Bassat. Before he revealed his aim to sign Beckham, Laporta trailed by three points. So even after a statement from Becks´ advisors, which claimed the England skipper felt like a political pawn, Laporta is exuberant. That is easy to understand - having been 40 percentage points behind Bassat on April 30, Laporta, 40, is now poised to win Sunday´s vote.
Sports staff, The Sun
Sergio: get Real, David
Sergio Garcia has urged David Beckham to snub Barcelona - and join his beloved Real Madrid instead. Spanish Ryder Cup golfer Garcia is a fanatical Real supporter and close friend of hotshot striker Raul. And he believes Manchester United midfielder Becks could help his favourite club reclaim their " rightful place" as kings of Europe. Garcia, 23, said: " Beckham is a fantastic player and he would fit into the Real side perfectly. You can never have too many great footballers in the team.
David Facey, The Sun
Becks strike threat
David Beckham could go on strike if Manchester United continue to try to sell him against his wishes. That was the threat from sources close to the England skipper last night, who broke his silence on the transfer rocking football to admit: “It’s a nightmare.” The England captain spoke after United agreed to flog him to Barcelona for £25m without his knowledge. Beckham, 28, is still in California with his wife Victoria on a working holiday. But following United’s decision to sell him, Becks has spoken to friends about his astonishment at United and Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta’s deal. He told a close friend: “To me it’s just a nightmare. I’m in a state of disbelief.”
Ben Todd, Daily Star
Betrayed
Manchester United have been accused of treating David Beckham like a piece of horse meat and setting the worst possible example to English football. Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the PFA, has fiercely defended his highest profile member against what he describes as the brutal betrayal of Manchester United. Taylor also doubts Beckham will go on striker and will instead stay at Old Trafford rather than be pushed out by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Brian Woolnough, Daily Star
Shares boost
Investors reckon the £25m sale of David Beckham is good business for Manchester United. United’s shares rose 7p to 158p as it was announced they had agreed to sell Beckham to Barcelona.
Sports staff, Daily Star
All down to Alex
Sir Alex Ferguson helped make the decision to sell David Beckham. A Manchester United insider was quoted last night as saying: “We are guided by his judgment. We have put all out faith in him. All he and the board want to do is the right thing for Manchester United.”
Bill Thornton, Daily Star
Laporta banking on £50m
Joan Laporta has itemised what David Beckham would mean to Barcelona – and it adds up to a cool £50m. And he will copy Manchester United’s marketing strategy to get it. The Barca presidential candidate is convinced Becks can become as big a legend at the Nou Camp as Johan Cruyff.
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star
Set up TWO weeks ago
David Beckham’s agent Tony Stephens met with Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta two weeks ago to discuss a move to Spain, it was claimed last night. Football agency SFX supreme Stephens has insisted he’d had no contact with Laporta, who is behind a £25m bid for the Manchester United midfield star and England captain. But sources in Spain close to the Laporta camp insisted yesterday that Stephens met Laporta and his right-hand man, Sandro Rosell, a fortnight ago in Nice.
David Woods and Harry Harris, Daily Star
We can make Becks a Real deal
Real Madrid will hand David Beckham the central-midfield role he craves if they succeed with their £25m bid for him later this month. Madrid have accused Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson of wasting Becks’ talent by turning him into a one-trick pony on the right of midfield. The former European champions are still involved in the Spanish title race, so they will not move for the England skipper until their league finishes on June 22. But when they do, they will tell the unwanted United star that he can be the cornerstone of their team – which Fergie has never done.
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star
Fergie set to splash cash
Sir Alex Ferguson aims to sign £30m-worth of players – funded by the sale of David Beckham. Ronaldinho and Harry Kewell are top of the Manchester United manager’s shopping list. Ferguson also wants a goalkeeper, with American Tim Howard and Leeds’ Paul Robinson the targets, and at least one defender. And a surprise name on Ferguson’s wish list is Deportivo La Coruna striker Roy Makaay. United remain confident of landing Ronaldinho from Paris St Germain – especially as sources in Spain say Real Madrid’s move for the Brazilian is no more than an attempt to keep their options open, their real target being Beckham.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star
Madrid can bid – Real to join Beckham auction
Manchester United last night sparked an auction for David Beckham after Real Madrid contacted Old Trafford to express their interest in the England captain. United chief executive Peter Kenyon, who has already accepted an initial offer of £22million from Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, told Real he welcomed their approach and urged them to make a firm proposal as soon as possible. Kenyon stressed that United would only accept a cash deal and that Madrid must at least match Laporta’s offer.
Ian Ladyman and Simon Cass, Daily Mail
Hey, big spender
The David Beckham saga is being watched with great interest by Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle – not from any desire to enter the bidding but because of the impact his sale might have on the Premiership. If Manchester United’s bank account is swelled by some £30million, their spending power will leave the opposition feeling like tramps at a summer ball.
Steve Curry, Daily Mail
Don’t take on Sir Alex and expect to win
While the crass manner in which Manchester United are trying to sell David Beckham to Barcelona has appalled most observers, Sir Alex Ferguson has never been one for pursuing prizes for compassion. Manchester United’s manager is concerned only with lifting trophies, and although his fingerprints remain all over the club’s ham-fisted attempt to secure a deal, his ruthless approach has proved successful in the past.
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail
Kewell customers
Manchester Untied have been given an unexpected boss in the race to sign Harry Kewell. Arsenal are also interested in the Leeds star and Kewell has told friends he would favour a move to Highbury. But while United can pay cash, Arsene Wenger has his hands tied financially and is trying to arrange a swap deal. He is prepared to offer Ray Parlour or Giovanni van Bronckhorst as part-payment for the £8million-rated Australian.
Matthew Dunn, Daily Express
Del Boy United
Players´ chief Gordon Taylor has roasted Manchester United for insulting David Beckham by agreeing to flog him to Barcelona ´like a piece of meat´. The PFA supremo is furious at the club´s announcement that they are willing to sell their England skipper for £24million to Joan Laporta. For Laporta has still to be voted in at the Barcelona presidential election on Sunday. Taylor insists United chief Alex Ferguson has dragged the game back to Victorian times by sanctioning the sale without consulting the player. He blasted: " Manchester United´s treatment of Beckham is an insult to his intelligence and to his years of loyal service to the club."
Dave Kidd, The Sun
Why are they selling him?
Barcelona cannot believe Old Trafford chiefs are willing to sell David Beckham. But they are more than happy to take the chance to land a player who they believe will revive their club. Barcelona´s presidential favourite Joan Laporta sees Beckham as the perfect buy for any club. Laporta added he does not have a problem with one facet of his celebrity lifestyle. He said: " I have looked into everything about David Beckham. To me he is a good man, a nice guy, a family man, a great role model. And most importantly for Barcelona, he is a great footballer. His celebrity life is no problem. In many ways it is part of the attraction and not just football fans but the people of Barcelona here will love him."
David Facey, The Sun
Carlos: Get Real, David
Roberto Carlos reckons David Beckham would prefer to play for Real Madrid than Barcelona. Real´s Brazilian left-back Carlos reckons the Spanish giants are a " more complete team" than their fierce rivals. And he thinks this will sway Manchester United midfielder Becks, 28, to move to the Bernabeu. Carlos, 30, said: " I´m certain that Beckham prefers Madrid because our team is in much better shape than anyone else.
David Facey, The Sun
Becks demands £8m pay-off
Manchester United will be forced to make an £8million pay-off to David Beckham after agreeing to sell him behind his back. The money covers the last two years of his contract as angry Beckham fights for every penny after being forced out of the club. The England skipper is upset at the way he has been treated after United announced yesterday they would sell him to Barcelona´s presidential candidate Joan Laporta if he is elected without even having an agreement with the club. That deal has been upgraded to a guaranteed fee of almost £30million, with a further £3.7m in bonuses, exposing just why the Old Trafford hierarchy have opened the door to Laporta. United´s negotiator Pini Zahavi came up with the lucrative package that persuaded United´s board to consider a bid which is far bigger than expected.
Sports staff, Daily Mirror
Posh holds the key
Presidential candidate Joan Laporta admitted last night that he will have to persuade Victoria Beckham that Barcelona is the place to be before he can ensure the arrival of husband David. " I realise that this is a big family decision and as soon as I have permission from his agents to speak to David I will try to persuade him and his wife that this is a city for their family," said Laporta, 40, ahead of Sunday´s election. " David is a nice boy, I have that on the best authority. I know that David knows the football team but I´m not sure whether he and his wife know the city."
Sports staff, Daily Mirror
