David Beckham: Ratcliffe Requires Time to Restore Man Utd

David Beckham is optimistic that minority owner Jim Ratcliffe will help turn around Manchester United’s fortunes, but he acknowledges that it will take time to return to the “good old days.”

Ratcliffe’s INEOS took charge of the club’s football operations earlier this year, yet United have had a disappointing start to the new season as they aim to build on last year’s FA Cup success.

Pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag, with United currently sitting 14th in the Premier League after seven matches and winless in two Europa League games.

Beckham, who won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League during his playing career at United, believes fans will need to be patient with Ratcliffe and his team.

Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in Manchester United from the Glazers in February.

The American owners have faced significant unpopularity among supporters since their leveraged takeover of the club in 2005, which left United with substantial debts.

On the “Rio Ferdinand Presents” podcast, Beckham remarked that the club has been in need of change and a “fresh perspective.”

“I really like Jim,” he said. “I’ve met him a few times over the years with a few mutual friends and I think that he’s a fan and he’s a great businessman as well, one of the best and one of the biggest.

“But I think more importantly, the fans see that he cares, and I think that’s a big part of it. I think the fans had lost faith in the leadership over the years and obviously he really cares about what he wants to do and what he wants to create.

“So, hopefully, things will change but these things take time.

“I think we have been quite patient as United fans over the years but we want those good old days back. We want those days back and the sooner the better.”

Beckham has served as president of MLS side Inter Miami since its inception in 2018.

Inter Miami, which signed Lionel Messi last year, has claimed this season’s MLS Supporters’ Shield—awarded to the team with the best regular-season record—and will be aiming for its first championship as the playoffs begin later this month.

Beckham revealed that he sought guidance from his former Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, when establishing the club.

“I went to him once and said to him, ‘I’m starting this team; how would you run it?’” he said.

“And he sat me down for a couple of hours and told me what I should do, what players I should be looking for, and how I should run the academy.

“And that’s really what I’ve tried to do. And then I also learnt from people like Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. You know, with Florentino, he has this crazy vision of always bringing the greatest players to the club and building this unbelievable stadium.”

United will host mid-table Brentford on Saturday, aiming for their first Premier League win since mid-September.