David Beckham has announced he will be voting to stay in the European Union, saying "together as a people we are strong".
In a statement posted on Facebook, the football star says he was "privileged" to play and live in European cities where he and his family were welcomed.
And he says that while Manchester United was a team of great young British players, it was "a better and more successful team" because of the Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Irish captain Roy Keane and France's Eric Cantona.
Beckham said: "We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong.
"For our children and their children we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone.
"For these reasons I am voting to Remain."
In the post Beckham, who lived and played in Milan, Paris and Madrid, says he is "passionate" about his country and "whatever the result of Thursday's referendum, we will always be Great".
As campaigning reaches its endgame and after bitter recriminations from both sides, Beckham urges: "Each side has the right to their opinion and that should always be respected whatever the outcome of the European referendum."
Leave.EU has been using a poster with a picture of Beckham's wife Victoria and a quote from her to advance their case for Brexit.
The campaign has used a comment she made 20 years ago saying: "The euro bureaucrats are destroying every bit of national identity and individuality.
We must keep our national individuality."
However, after her husband announced he was for 'In', Victoria Beckham tweeted to say she was proud of him with the hashtag #remain and a Union Flag.
It comes after the Premier League boss Richard Scudamore backed Remain, saying all 20 clubs in the league wanted the UK to stay in too.
He said: "Nobody bears the scars more than me of having to go and negotiate in Brussels and try and organise things a little bit in our interests in terms of the European machine.
"Ultimately you can't break away, you can't just pull out, you have to get in and negotiate and try and organise and try and influence."
Leave campaigner Michael Gove countered, telling Sky News that Vote Leave had the backing of former England defender Sol Campbell and winger John Barnes.
In April, Campbell argued in an article in the Mail On Sunday: "The Premier League is in danger of becoming a free-for-all because, along with the star players, we are seeing teams load up with too many mediocre overseas footballers, especially from Europe, crowding out young English and British talent.
"Because of European rules on freedom of movement, it is virtually impossible for us to get a proper grip on the situation."
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