Writing in the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon explains why and how the decision was made to sell David Beckham to Real Madrid...
" Everyone involved in the running of a big football club like Manchester United knows there are times when controversial decisions have to be taken.
" The agreement we reached on Tuesday to sell David Beckham to Real Madrid clearly fits into that category. In my time at Old Trafford I can’t think of a story that has attracted as much media interest and generated so much speculation and comment as this one.
" The single most important question I know many fans will want an answer to is this: why have we sold one of our top players?
" I feel it is only right that we answer that.
" At the end of every season the manager discusses with the board what the club needs to do in the summer to strengthen the playing squad and put the team in a position to be even more competitive on the field.
" When we sat down with Sir Alex in May, it was the manager’s view that in order to continue the development of our team we needed to make some changes on the playing side, which meant bringing some new players into the squad.
" When making long-term plans on the playing side we also review the age profile of our squad and, crucially, the status of key players’ contracts.
" Normally, when a player has two years left on his contract we either renew his deal or accept that it might be best he move on elsewhere, allowing us to earn a fee on his sale. What does not make sense for the club is to let top players leave at the end of their contract on a free transfer.
" In David’s case our approach in mid-May to his advisors about extending his current deal, which had just two years to run, did not meet with an immediate positive response.
" Around the same time, we were approached by several clubs in Spain and Italy who were interested in buying David. We were also told by the player’s advisors at the SFX agency that they too had been contacted by foreign clubs about David.
" It was at this point that it became clear a transfer deal involving David might prove beneficial not only for the club but also for the player. We knew David was excited by the opportunity of playing abroad, and we felt that if we could generate a substantial fee in a transfer deal it would support our efforts to strengthen the squad for next season.
" From that point onwards, it was our job at United to get the right deal for the club, and SFX’s job to do the same for David. In that regard, I believe we have both succeeded.
" The total fee we agreed with Madrid has been viewed by some as low, particularly when compared to the money spent by us and other top clubs on players in recent years.
" However, the reality is that in the past 12 months the football transfer market has virtually collapsed, with player values falling dramatically, mainly because of the economic problems facing many clubs and the subsequent shortage of buyers.
" In this depressed market, we believe a fee of up to £25m for a player just two years from the end of his contract represents a very good deal for United – and I think in the coming weeks some of the transfer fees that will be negotiated among football clubs in Europe will prove me right on that.
" Some people have criticised Manchester United for the way we have handled the deal, and for working behind the player’s back. This is simply not true. I know we conducted the negotiations and our dealings with all parties in the right and proper way during the whole process, with David’s advisors kept informed of developments throughout. The club has parted company with David on excellent terms.
" So, what happens next? Well, life goes on pretty much as normal at Old Trafford. We are currently working on bringing in those players we have identified who will strengthen our squad so that we are best placed to defend our Premiership title next season and mount an even more robust challenge in Europe. From the very start of the summer, that has been our main objective.
" Of course it is sad to see any player go, particularly one like David who has been with us since he was a young lad. Everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in Spain.
" As for our team, we believe we have a terrific squad and the best manager and coaching staff in football. At the end of last season the fans sang, “We’ve got our trophy back”. Next season we plan to keep it, and win some more silverware besides. The transfer deal we completed this week, and the ones we hope to complete this summer, are all about doing just that."
Peter Kenyon
Thursday 19 June 2003
This article also appeared in the Manchester Evening News on Thursday 19 June.
