Beckham Fee Was Lowered by Ferguson Rift, Says Wenger

The size of the transfer fee Real Madrid paid Manchester United for David Beckham was lowered by the apparent rift between the player and United manager Alex Ferguson, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Beckham agreed a 35 million euros ($41.76 million) move to Real Madrid this week after a difficult final season at Old Trafford when his relationship with Ferguson became strained.

Wenger, whose team finished runners-up to United in the premier league last season, told Eurosport TV: "I think that the personal problems (which resulted in) Manchester United's desire to transfer Beckham at any price certainly lowered the fee."

The price Real paid United for Beckham, the world's most marketable player, was five million pounds less than United paid Leeds United for defender Rio Ferdinand a year ago. However, since then the soccer transfer market has plummeted.

Wenger, who is in France watching the Confederations Cup, also suggested Beckham's sale could spark the break-up of the United squad.

"One of the things that made Manchester great is going, and with the togetherness that that group of players had, and the things they had achieved, well, it is the beginning of a break-up for that group. For me, it was a surprise," said Wenger.

On Thursday, United chief executive Peter Kenyon said the club had decided to sell Beckham as it feared he might not sign a new contract, raising the possibility that he would leave for nothing when his contract expired in 2005.

Frenchman Wenger accepted, though, that United would now have the financial muscle to strengthen their team significantly.

"Manchester have the means buy big," he said. "Even if Beckham had stayed they could have afforded to buy big, so with Beckham going, Manchester will lead the way in England now."