That's the view of Sir Alex Ferguson, the man whose bust-up with the former Old Trafford star led to him leaving the club for Real Madrid in 2003.
And Ferguson, who sent United's best wishes to Beckham after the announcement of his staggering é128m, five-year deal with Los Angeles Galaxy, says he is not surprised by his former prodigy's career move.
Ferguson feels there was little option with Beckham's career stale-mated at Madrid, no obvious interest from a big Italian club, and the perceived reluctance to play in England for anyone other than United.
And with the financial offer dangled before him, described by Ferguson as "incredible", it was a move the Reds' boss says he had half-expected.
"I am not surprised," said Ferguson. "I anticipated he would go to America, and we wish him well because it is a big career change from playing for Real Madrid to playing over there, but there are simple reasons for it. That money is incredible!
"I don't think there was a chance of him coming back to England. Having played for us, he has always been deep down a United fan and so don't think there was a chance of him going to play for another English club.
Terrific
"He has been a terrific player at our club and everyone here hopes he does well."
The debate about whether it is a good career move for Beckham rages, some seeing it as a bold challenge in a growing football market, others seeing it as a particularly lucrative semi-retirement.
But Ferguson is prepared to wait and see. "It's difficult to say whether it's a good move. You have to gauge his position at Real Madrid at the moment, which is the thing that probably accelerated his decision.
"He has only played five games this season and he can't be happy with that because like every top player he will want to play.
"I don't know if he had an opportunity to play in Italy, but he certainly had an opportunity to go to America, and with the kind of money being talked about he had to consider it.
"United is a football club that, certainly since I came here, has had a terrific family feel about it, and players do get attached to it for 101 different reasons," he said.
"The people working at United that you see every day like our receptionist Kathy Phipps and my secretary Lynn, have been here for ages, and the likes of Ken Ramsden and Ken Merritt, have been working here for almost 50 years.
"There must be a reason for that, and the most important reason is that it is a terrific football club and there is that family feel to it. That's why David would find it hard to go anywhere else in England.
"When I first came here I used to think of United as a sort of celebrity club, a showbizzy club and on a Saturday you would see all the restaurants open. But that is not our football club, and nothing like our football club." Tweet
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He said in interview "what could be better than playing for your boyhood team for 9 years?" Really? When I was at school with him it was Spurs. When did he play for us?
OK if you want to get pedantic, we got become as a boy and at that point there was only one club he truly loved
I have been a Manchester United Supporter for more than 30 years and I can tell you that Beckham was never world class, or even a great footballer.
In fact all real united fans always knew that he was by far the least talented of the midfield of Giggs, Keane, Scholes, and Beckham. He was a media invention right face at the right time.
As a free kick taker he was always overrated -if you look at his free kick record, the free kick that he scored in the world cup 2006 was his first in almost 3 years in any competition.
To compare him with Pele is an insult to international football and proves American football fans ignorance of the tradition of the game itself.
You will get those non-Manchester united English fans who worship beckham - they are blinded by the media hype but real Madrid and Manchester united fans know better.
As an international soccer star beckham was average at best. His best moment was a drawing free kick against a second rate Greek side. He has never achieved anything internationally for his national team, just excuses of injuries every time he failed in from 1998 to 2006.
The fact that he remained captain of England for so long and in the side, was due to the celebrity obsession of Sven.
The MLS has gained nothing in terms of credibility internationally. What they have got is a has been who never was playing in a micky mouse league.
The MLS has got duped in the biggest financial mistake in sporting history. What the MLS needs is quality not short lived hype.
The LA Galaxy will sell a few Beckham tee shirts but not anywhere near as many as they think because unlike Manchester United and Real Madrid they have no international soccer brand and history.
Remember Beckham would never have received international or national attention had he just played for an average team -these 2 teams are 2 of the most famous and greatest clubs in the history.
Real Madrid only ever bought Beckham for the marketing angle not as a player. They were able to capitalise on this only because they were Real Madrid -will LA Galaxy sell tee-shirts in London? - Dream ON!!
To pay $250m for an unwanted benchwarmer? I really feel sorry for MLS fans.
good luck becks but i wished you were coming back home
john from london, boo hoo. No player that is not world class can play 96 times for is country or come second twice as the best player in the world.Give the guy a break anybody would go to the US for the money he is getting. Becks good luck#
Good luck David, thanks for the years with us - you're a true red.
It would be a shrewd move by Fergie if he could get him on loan until the end of the season. Apparantly Real will not be playing him again - a wages only deal would be great and the extra hype could push the bandwagon on and help us win the title
It seems that non-British managers don't like the British players anyway. So shouldn't have been a surprise that Capello sat Beckham out. I've seen Madrid quite a few times this season and there are at least six players on that team who Beckham will put in his pocket. Sure Becks didn't put out much this season, but it was only because of injuries and lack of confidence of a manager who so far failed. I feel it is a big shame that the EPL lost a player of Beckham's calibre, who I believe still got at least 3 years in his tank. The American soccer is going to take a few years more to take off. However, judging from their performances in the World Cups they are not too far behind, and Becks presence in their league will do no harm, especially to their upcoming players.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE HE LEFT !!! AND
WHAT A BLUNDER IT WAS..I AM SAD THAT IT WAS SUCH A
WASTE....AND I THINK HE WILL
THINK THE SAME....they were
the days of wine and roses....
OH DEAR THAT DAY AT EVERTON SEEMS A LIFETIME
AWAY....REGARDS TO ALL....
THAIART.....
That' s what happened to me. Once you have touched MAN UTD you'll become adicted to it.
No matter what other people say Man Utd is an institution that will remain so for the rest of the years to come.For us it is a sort of a religion. Look at the massive crowds we'll carry every time we play either home or away. Come to Malta and you'll see what I' m talking about and so in other countries
I just wish everyone would get over David Beckham. The man has more money than God's Accountant so I don't care what he does or where he goes but good luck to him all the same. He's a good player works hard and did us proud at United but for goodness can we all just move on. I ain't suprised why SAF sold him just look at all the hype surrounding his move to the US. I mean, does anybody really care.
Yeah, and don't forget the supporters in the Pre-Money, the Munich and Busby days, not to mention the Newton Heath years when that truly put United on the English football map.
W could do worse than bring himin until May. Still has that great right foot and desire. Just has lost too many steps over the years. As a bit player he could help us but it would be a real long shot. Fergie would never have him back but the Glazers would. Think of the shirt sales alone.
An idea.
As madrid don't want to play him and as he is a Red, why not send him off to USA as a RED? Do a deal with Madrid and have him play in our league games through the end of the season.
It would be good for everyone and a feel good thing to do and he would give us somemidfield cover. We can march to the title with Larrson and Becks.
Brilliant idea orreally bad idea?
Looks like great minds think a like. Canadian ones anyway!
Get him back for three months. Sell loads of shirts.
He'll score from thirty yards at Stamford Bridge and drive a stake through their heart and it will be the best season ever.
I partially agree with John, london. I cant believe people are being serious when saying becks should come on loan. WHAT THE HELL FOR?? Why would we want to page his wages tosit on our bench. He is a has-been. I disagree with John that he was never a great player. he may have been one-dimensional, but he was very influential. I advise that youm get the treble dvd and see how many assist eh put in that season. He was definetly one of the best crossers in the game, but I have to agree he was not world class. Any oppoisition would have snuffed him out if they had someone man marking him, as he has never had the ability to beat a player. Most of his crosses seemed to be the equivalent of set pieces with the amount of space he was given. And that was at his peak. Imagine if Fergie didnt get rid, CR could have been strutting his stuff at Real,Barca or even worse, Chelsea. Beckham has no place in the United team now, and I wouldnt even get him to keep O'shea out the team!
Yes I'd like to see Becks back for a final swansong and the proper farewell that he was denied when sold to Real Madrid for a paltry 25m quid. I still remember these very comment boards being filled with floods of comments, all in disbelief that SAF could sell one of our greatest players to Real for buttons! The cries of "Fergie Out" from the fans was deafening. Oh how short alot of people's memories are on here!!! Becks was world class, just like Keano, neither of them could beat a man, nor could they claim to be blessed with unrivaled, sublime skill or speed, but both were Red to the bone, perfectionists who used extreme hardwork and their own unique footballing talent to become the best in their postions, without question. As someone else already points out, Becks finished 2nd in the World Player of the Year awards. Without Becks, 99's treble would still be the thing of dreams rather than reality. Nobody cares to remember the small fact that it was Becks who put in those corners which Teddy and Ole scored from, and it was Becks who got us back into the game against Spurs on the final game of that great season with a fantastic goal from open play to help us snatch the title from the Arsenal, Just how many assists he had that season is anyone's guess but I do know that without him that season there would be no Treble. He is and always will be the best crosser of a ball. United could just do themselves and him both a favour by taking him on loan til the end of the season because his experience alone would benefit Cristiano Ronaldo and the team as a whole. Ronaldo and Giggs with Park and Beckham challenging them for the wing roles would be sensational. Just like SAF signing Larsson was a great piece of business, Becks would be a master stroke loan signing at the right time of the season to make just the right difference. I for one would jump for joy if he was given the greenlight to come home and win a few more trophies with us before he jets off to the States. I bet Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and of course Ryan Giggs would all agree with me too!!! Support the Team and Live the Dream.....
SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND Becks DIDNT get an assist in the CL final although he ws instrumental that season. I thought people were talking about Becks as cover for CM. To say he could do a job on the wing is ridiculous. Giggs,Park,Ronaldo and Solksjaer would all be ahead of him. You say people were on here complaining saying fergie out, they were doing the same when we signed Evra and Vidic last season. Beckham doesnt offer anything on the wing anymore as proved in the WC and the reason why he cant get in the Madrid team. People like you are blinded by loyalty when in reality he is no longer a top class player. Dont you agree that Aaron lennon looked far better in the WC. Signing Becks on loan would be a bigger waste of money the Veron was!
real reason is cause of fergie lets get real eh !
Most over-rated (and now poverpaid) player in the history of the game . . . . risible
Come on loan? well worth having him on the bench if in need of a goal. Still think it is not the right move at this stage because of potential distractions that may come with it. LA Galaxy are not paying him 500k per week from their own pocket. Obviously the sponsors see Becks as one final attempt to get mainstream America into the game and let the money flow. If he appears on Jay Leno and Letterman with his mates Tom Cruise and other celebs it could work - especially with his 'soccer' schools. Personally I wish him well and will just quietly laugh at the repulsive Real Madrid's latest faux pas
The Beckham factor
Toronto FC has just surpassed 10,000 season tickets. 2,600 in the past four days. Not bad for a team that hasn't played one game yet.
Must be going mad in LA