Real Madrid: Analyzing the complex legacy of David Beckham at the Bernabeu

David Beckham once enjoyed an almost paternal relationship with his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. However, by 2003, Ferguson perceived Beckham’s celebrity lifestyle and his commitments to the commercial world to be dwindling his focus from football. The two had a fallout that famously resulted in a thrown boot in the dressing room that cut Beckham above his eyebrow. And, just like that, the then England captain, considered almost unsellable was suddenly, on the market Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez didn’t let go and signed him under his Galacticos policy in the summer transfer window of 2003 for a fee of fewer than 25 million euros.

His signing remains the best example of what was wrong with Perez’s initial approach as the president.

Beckham was brought into the side when Real Madrid was facing an imminent departure of Claude Makelele due to financial reasons and the squad was in desperate need of defensive reinforcements. However, Perez made the move for David Beckham and introduced him as the latest galactico. Additionally, his presence in the squad presented another tactical problem as he occupied a similar position to Luis Figo. His arrival thus didn’t improve the team.

It wasn’t all negative though, Beckham was a highly marketable player. He added constructively to the club’s financial armory. And though he would be remembered by football fans for his links with the commercial world and him being one of the first footballing entrepreneurs, Madridistas know that there was a lot more to David Beckham’s legacy than just being the poster boy for Perez’s Galacticos policy.