Beckham for sale
... therefore gives an instant boost to their brand value. The sale of David Beckham might mean Man U is losing its biggest star, but analysts insisted that getting so much money for a swiftly-depreciating asset (a player) in a depressed market is sound business. For investors in the club, the transfer fee amounts to pure profit. Especially since Beckham joined Man U as a boy. They were certainly happy at the deal. Much of their income depends on a club's image and glamour as much as on its results, and Beckham has played a key role. His image rights have helped him earn a personal fortune of ¡ê50m, according to this year's Sunday Times Rich List, while his brand value is estimated at over ¡ê200m (US$332 million). Real seems to have stepped over the potential stumbling block of Beckham's image rights. His last contract with United was held up for months as the two sides bargained over when the club could use Beckham's image to sell their products. Real's public policy is not to allow individual marketing contracts. "When a player signs for Real Madrid he must give up his image rights for the club to manage," said Butragueno. But the club respected the individual deals of Zidane and Brazil's Ronaldo when they joined the nine-times European champions. Beckham has become the face of much of United's branding, taking the starring role in adverts for club sponsors such as UK's mobile and telecom giant Vodafone. He is also the face of Vodafone's Japanese unit, J-Phone. Whether Vodafone will want to renew their shirt sponsorship contract, which expires in '04, with a United without Beckham remains to be seen. United has a 300 million-pound, 13-year deal with Nike. It kicked in before the start of last season, meaning the club does not have to depe...