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An exclusive extract from Tom Bower's House of Beckham book claims the "money obsessed" footballer was "terrified by the prospect of sliding back into a constrained standard of living". David Beckham 's hopes for a knighthood could be jeopardised by a new book delving into his previous tax affairs. Tom Bower, the author, alleges that the footballer, who he describes as "money obsessed" regularly sought advice on how to legally reduce his UK tax payments.

Beckham's aspirations of becoming Sir David were thwarted in 2014 when HMRC raised concerns. The book, which is being serialised exclusively over three days in the Mirror, comes as Beckham was announced last month as an ambassador for the King's Foundation. This role, insiders suggest, could enhance his chances of receiving a knighthood.



However, Bower asserts that Beckham was less enthusiastic about the UK when it came to HMRC taxing high earners at 40 per cent. In 'The House of Beckham', Bower provides a detailed account of how the football star aimed to pay less UK tax, primarily because he was "thrilled to be rich" and "terrified by the prospect of sliding back into a constrained standard of living. Opportunities to legally avoid taxes abounded," according to Bower, reports the Mirror .

Bower goes on to describe how a forensic accountant who sifted through the star's accounts was left "baffled" by the complexity of their "opaque" financial arrangements. He had "effectively become a non-dom" following his move to Real Madr.

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