Manchester United have made it clear they are ready to sell but David Beckham does not seem sold on a move to Barcelona.
Less than two hours after United's announcement on Tuesday that they had agreed a price for the England captain with Barca's would-be president, Joan Laporta, Beckham's management company moved to pour cold water all over the proposed deal.
In comments that must raise a substantial doubt over whether Beckham could ever play for a Laporta-led Barcelona, the management company SFX claimed their client was dismayed at being "used as a political pawn in the Barcelona presidential elections."
More to the point, SFX said they had no plans to meet Laporta or his representatives.
Things may change if Laporta manages to be elected Barcelona president on Sunday.
But Beckham could not have been any less blunt in expressing a preference for a move to Real Madrid or one of the two Milan teams, all of whom can, unlike Barcelona, offer Champions League football next season.
The only thing that was clear after Tuesday's dramatic developments is that Beckham -- arguably the most famous player on the planet -- looks certain to be leaving Old Trafford this summer in a deal expected to generate around US$50 million for the English champions.
United's statement, apparently released without any consultation with the player who is currently on holiday in the US, said the club had reached agreement with Laporta on the terms of a transfer.
"This offer is subject to a number of conditions and critically to both Mr. Laporta being elected President on Sunday 15 June and Barcelona subsequently reaching agreement with David Beckham on his personal contract," United acknowledged.
"Manchester United confirms that in the event that all of the conditions are fulfilled then the offer would be acceptable."
SFX's counter statement replied: "David is very disappointed and surprised to learn of this statement and feels that he has been used as a political pawn in the Barcelona presidential elections.
"David's advisors have no plans to meet Mr. Laporta or his representatives."
Laporta himself insisted that Beckham's transfer "was on the right track".
"We first have to respect FIFA rules which say an agreement must first be sought with the club, which we now have, before negotiating with the player."
And Laporta's campaign manager Sandro Rosell said the deal struck with United would remain "at the disposal" of whoever won the presidential election.
United's announcement came a day after Beckham acknowledged for the first time he was ready to leave the club where he has spent his entire career.
"I'm contracted to Man United for another two or three years, I think," the England captain, currently on holiday in the US, told the Los Angeles Times.
"As long as they want me, then I'll stay. But I've never said that I'd never move away from Manchester, and I've never said that I'd end my career there," he said.
Beckham appeared resigned to being sold. "There will always be changes at a team like Man United," he told the LA Times.
"With all the big teams there's always going to be changes because you look to strengthen the team whether you win three trophies or you win one."
Beckham told the LA Times his relationship with Ferguson was not behind the transfer speculation, describing the short-fused Scot as a "father figure."
"I've been at Man United for like 12 years now and without him I wouldn't be the player or the person that I am today.
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