Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton insists manager Sir Alex Ferguson didn't push David Beckham to Real Madrid.

At the launch of his autobiography My Manchester United Years, Charlton was quick to dispel the belief Beckham was driven out of Old Trafford by Ferguson, even though he admits there were huge differences between the pair.

He said: "It is true the manager had serious problems with the Beckhams' lifestyle. Beckham thought that a celebrity lifestyle, being drawn increasingly into the showbiz world of his wife Victoria, was compatible with the regime of a professional footballer. His manager did not. But there was never any question of the player being driven out of United.

"I can say this with great conviction because I saw the contract he rejected when he decided to leave for Real Madrid. It was an excellent, generous offer and certainly did not resemble a goodbye note."