Wenger: Arsenal keen on Beckham but couldn’t afford his wages

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he was interested in bringing David Beckham to Arsenal in the past but says the Gunners could not afford his wages.

The former England captain, who announced on Thursday that he will be retiring from football in the summer, trained with Arsenal a number of times and the Gunners boss was always left impressed by his attitude.

“Yes I was [interested in signing him] but it was during the period where we could not afford to pay him,” Wenger told a news conference on Friday.

“After that it was a question mark as well before he went to Milan, but we were in a position where we did not really need players.”

Wenger said that it was “a pleasure” to have Beckham train with the Gunners at their London Colney base.

“It was always a pleasure to have him here for his attitude and behaviour, he gained respect from everybody through his dedication and commitment,” he continued.

“At the end of the day, no matter how strong a player is, what remains in your memory is his genuine commitment and dedication, his natural humility which he always had. That will stay forever.

“You forget sometimes if he has won this championship or that championship, but you never forget how he behaved, and that is a credit to him.

“More than what he has achieved I have a huge respect for his passion for the game, his huge commitment, his mental strength – because he was under a lot of pressure throughout his career – and his dedication. I think that is where he is an example.”