Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he was not
surprised by David Beckham's decision to move to the United
States.
Beckham has agreed a five-year, $250million (£128million) deal to
join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy in the summer.
The former England captain will leave Real Madrid as a free agent
at the end of the season and Ferguson felt his next destination was
always going to be America.
"I anticipated that. I thought that was expected, to go to
America," he told Sky Sports News.
"He had the opportunity to go to America and with the kind of money
being talked about he had to consider that."
The United boss thinks Beckham's lack of playing time at Real
played a major part in his decision to go to MLS.
"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."
Beckham had been linked with a return to the Premiership when his
Real deal expired.
However, Ferguson believes there was never any chance of the
31-year-old playing in England again because of his ties with
United.
He added: "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."