Ferguson not surprised at Beckham move to United States

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 12 (Reuters) David Beckham's decision to end his playing career with a lucrative move to the United States came as no surprise to his former manager at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson.

Beckham, who will leave Real Madrid as a free agent at the end of the season, agreed a five-year contract with MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy yesterday in a deal worth 250 million dollar.

Ferguson told reporters today: ''I anticipated that. I hought that was expected, to go to America.

''He had the opportunity to go to America and with the kind of money being talked about he had to consider that.'' Beckham had also been linked with a possible return to England after falling out of favour at Real, where he has played since leaving United in 2003.

But Ferguson, who nurtured Beckham's career after signing him as a schoolboy before their relationship deteriorated towards the end of his time in Manchester, believes his 10-year first-team career at Old Trafford had made such a move unlikely.

Ferguson told reporters: ''I don't think there was any chance of that, having played for us.

''Deep down he was always a United fan and I don't think there was any chance of him going back to another English club.

''He has been a terrific player at our club and everyone at our club hopes he does well. We wish him well. It's a big career change from playing for Real Madrid to go and play in America.'' The former England captain has become a fringe player at the Bernabeu and Ferguson believes that was also a major factor in his switch to the United States.

''You've got to gauge his position at Real Madrid at the moment,'' Ferguson said.

''I think that's maybe accelerated it because he has only played five games this season and he can't be happy with that.

''Every top player wants to play so that has probably accelerated the whole business of it.'' Reuters PDS RS1925