Barcelona had a deal in place for Real Madrid icon in 2003 but last-minute decision ruined the deal | OneFootball

In 2003, David Beckham was the face of English football. The Manchester United winger was one of the most recognisable players in the world, adored by fans and seen as a marketing powerhouse.

However, his time at Old Trafford was coming to an end, as then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided it was best for the club to part ways with the superstar.

This decision set the stage for a transfer battle between two of the biggest clubs in European football—Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Real Madrid made the move

Real Madrid made their interest in Beckham clear, capitalising on a Champions League tie against Manchester United to get closer to the player.

During the match, Beckham spent a considerable amount of time on the bench, which provided an opening for Madrid to make their move.

Zinedine Zidane played a crucial role in persuading Beckham. During a post-match shirt exchange, Zidane personally planted the idea of joining Madrid in Beckham’s mind, setting things in motion.

Barcelona were in the mix

Meanwhile, Barcelona were in the midst of a crucial presidential election. The club was struggling to reclaim its former glory, having gone through a rough patch without major silverware.

Barcelona attempted to sign David Beckham. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

According to AS, Joan Laporta, a fresh and ambitious candidate, sought to gain support by making a bold promise—he claimed that Barcelona had an agreement with Manchester United to bring David Beckham to the club if he won the election.

This announcement created a massive buzz among fans and media alike. To add credibility to Laporta’s claim, Manchester United even published a short statement on their official website confirming that they had accepted Barcelona’s offer.

However, there was one major problem—Beckham himself had never agreed to the move.

The turning point and the arrival of Ronaldinho

Unaware of the deal, Beckham was on holiday when he received a message from a friend informing him of the situation. Shocked by the news, he immediately cut his vacation short and returned to England to take control of his future.

Instead of joining Barcelona, Beckham pushed for a transfer to Real Madrid, where he would become part of the famous ‘Galacticos’ project alongside stars like Zidane, Ronaldo, and Luis Figo.

His move to Madrid was finalised, leaving Barcelona empty-handed despite their efforts.

However, Laporta had prepared for this possibility. Rather than relying solely on Beckham, he had also been in discussions with other high-profile players.

With Beckham out of reach, Barcelona turned their attention to a rising Brazilian talent—Ronaldinho. The playmaker, who was making waves at Paris Saint-Germain, became the club’s new target.

For a fee of €32.25 million, Barcelona secured his services, and what seemed like a major setback turned into one of the best decisions in the club’s history.