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Barcelona's entire history could have been very different if they had not missed out on signing this LaLiga great
When David Beckham left Manchester United in 2003, it sent shockwaves through the footballing world.
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But what many fans didn’t know until now is just how close the English superstar came to joining Barcelona instead of Real Madrid.
How David Beckham rejected Barcelona
Beckham, a key figure in United’s treble-winning era, has now revealed that his departure from Old Trafford wasn’t initially destined for the Spanish capital, but for Catalonia.
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Speaking on CBS Sports, the former midfielder recalled being told by then-Manchester United chief Peter Kenyon that a deal had been agreed with Barcelona.
However, Beckham flat-out rejected the move, and recalled the moment saying, “My team had always been Real Madrid. And it’s funny to see that I was sold from Manchester United to Barcelona. I was on vacation and Peter Kenyon called me and told me they’d accepted an offer from Barcelona.
“And I said, ‘If you’re going to sell me, the only club I’m willing to move to is Real Madrid.’ I’d always dreamed of playing for Madrid, ever since I was a kid. I didn’t think I was going to leave United, but if I had to, I wanted it to be to go to Madrid.
“And if United wanted me to go, it had to be to go to Madrid. They had to back out of everything. In a day and a half, it was done and undone.”
Real Madrid was always Beckham’s end game
Beckham’s insistence paid off as just 48 hours after being offered to Barcelona, he became a Real Madrid player.
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The England legend became part of the legendary Galácticos alongside Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Roberto Carlos.
Beckham spent four seasons at Real madrid, lifting a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup, totalling 159 appearances for Los Galacticos.
Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Beckham made it clear that despite Manchester United’s plans, his heart had already made the decision long before the contract was signed.
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