David Beckham has admitted he finds it impossible to hold a grudge against Sir Alex Ferguson, despite any criticism the former Manchester United manager levelled at him in his recently-released autobiography.
Ferguson claimed in his book 'My Autobiography' that Beckham's football was affected by his celebrity lifestyle and that his work-rate dropped in his final year at United.
While some have taken umbrage at the revelations in Ferguson's book - most notably former United captain Roy Keane - Beckham remains thankful to the 71-year-old Scot for allowing him to "live my dream".
Indeed, Beckham's only hint of bitterness was in a sarcastic claim that Ferguson's comments had ruled him out of becoming the first manager of his Major League Soccer franchise, which is planned to be launched out of Miami.
"I'm not going to sit here an be negative about a man who gave me the chance to play for my boyhood team," Beckham said while promoting his own book 'David Beckham' in a global book signing televised on Facebook.
"He gave me the chance to do that. He believed in me, he believed in the rest of the young lads that came through with us.
"The funny thing was, obviously I'm involved with the MLS and I'm involved in bringing in my own franchise to the league.
"Actually he was one of the first numbers I was going to call to be manager. Now I'm not so sure any more. I'm not so sure he'd accept.
"All joking aside I wouldn't be negative about Sir Alex Ferguson.
"He was the man who gave me the chance to live my dream."
Beckham side-stepped questions regarding recent reports that Miami had been set in stone as his preferred home for his MLS franchise, saying only that it was one of the cities he was considering.
Press Association Sport understands, however, that Miami is his final choice and that he is set to take up a discounted 25million US dollars (£15.5million) option to launch a team out of Florida.
The MLS would still have to confirm any deal before Beckham would get the green light to set-up a team in a city the league has not held a presence since the Miami Fusion folded in 2001 due to poor attendances.
Beckham has the option to become a franchise owner after a clause was written into his playing contract when he first signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
That clause has kicked in following his retirement as a player in the summer and allows him to complete a deal at a quarter of the price Manchester City paid, in partnership with the New York Yankees, to secure the rights to launch New York City FC next year.
"When I signed my contract six or seven years ago (with the Galaxy) my manager actually got a clause in the contract that enabled me to have a franchise at the end of my playing career," he said.
"Now that I have stopped playing a year before we started looking at different players. Miami was obviously one of them. We've looked at other places as well.
"I'm excited about that. I'm passionate about staying involved in football.
"An owner of a team is something that I'm passionate about."
Source: PA
