Real move could have been handled better, says Beckham

David Beckham criticised the handling of his transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid on Thursday and vowed to send a personal farewell message to his adoring Old Trafford fans.

"I think things went on that, of course, I wouldn't have been happy about," Beckham told reporters on his promotional tour of the Far East with his pop star wife Victoria.

"But when a club comes to a decision on the money side, it was my decision after that. For me it's a good decision now."

Beckham added: "Of course, I think it could have been done a little bit differently."

"But...I don't want to talk about that side of it now because I am a Real Madrid player now and I'm looking forward to it."

Beckham's relationship with United manager Alex Ferguson suffered last season and he was consigned to the substitutes' bench in the final weeks of their title-winning campaign.

Thursday's comments echoed sentiments he expressed via his management company SFX last Tuesday, when Beckham said he felt he was being used as "a political pawn" after United announced they had conditionally accepted a bid for him from Barcelona.

The 28-year-old England captain, who is working on an autobiography due out later this year, is due in Spain at the start of July to finalise his 35 million euros ($41.87 million) move. He has still to sign his contract and pass a medical.

But Beckham said after that was done he would record a farewell message for the United fans.

"I go over there to Spain in early July to finalise it all and do my medical and once that has been done I'm going to do a message for the Manchester United fans because they have been a massive part of my life and my career."

"To just leave without saying anything wouldn't be right because I owe them a lot. Like they feel I've done a lot for the club, I feel that they've done a lot for my career and my life."