Beckham 'sad' over Welbeck's United exit

What you need to know:

  • Welbeck, 23, was allowed to join Arsenal in a deal reportedly worth £16 million ($26.6 million, 20.2 million euros) on Monday after United agreed to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco.
  • England manager Roy Hodgson welcomed the move.

LONDON

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham told the BBC on Tuesday that he was "sad" to see home-grown striker Danny Welbeck leave the club for their Premier League rivals Arsenal.

"He (Welbeck) has been there since he was eight. His heart was in Manchester," said Beckham, who graduated from the United youth team in the mid-1990s before establishing himself at Old Trafford.

"I am sure he is obviously sad to leave Manchester United. Arsenal have a very good, young, talented English player, but to see him leave Manchester United, as a Manchester United fan, is obviously sad."

BIG BONUS

However, England manager Roy Hodgson welcomed the move.

"The biggest bonus is for Danny Welbeck," Hodgson told a press conference ahead of England's friendly game with Norway on Wednesday.

"When you are a player of his calibre and find yourself at United with competition for places, you don't always get the starts you would like.

"He is going to a club where he will hopefully get more starts and playing time. So I am pleased for Danny and I think Arsenal have signed a good player.

"My job is with England and the players I choose. I don't wish to make any suggestions about what clubs do with their players.

"But I cannot deny the more players play and the more experience they get, especially at Champions League level, the better it is for me at international level."

Welbeck's England team-mate Jack Wilshere welcomed the striker to Arsenal with a picture of the pair on Twitter.

"Big welcome to my boy Welbz," the Arsenal midfielder wrote. "Great player for a great club. Another English lad!"