Today, David Beckham, the proprietor of Inter Miami, formally declared the purchase of a Premier League team for a significant amount of $4 billion.
The Glazer family, who currently own Manchester United, have previously indicated a willingness to explore new investment options—leaving the door open for either partial or full ownership changes. Earlier in the year, two prominent figures, INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, each submitted separate bids to buy the club. Despite these offers, the Glazers did not provide any public response, leaving fans and observers in suspense.
More recently, it emerged that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now considering purchasing a minority stake in the club rather than pushing for full control. This development has reignited frustration among Manchester United fans, many of whom have long expressed discontent with the Glazer family’s management. Their frustrations were especially evident before the team’s 2-1 win over Brentford, where supporters once again voiced their desire for a complete change at the top.
David Beckham, a Manchester United legend, shared his thoughts on the situation in an interview with Sky Sports during the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Qatar. He underlined the importance of stable leadership at a club of United’s magnitude and acknowledged that fans are passionate about who should lead the team back to success. When asked about Sheikh Jassim’s failed bid, Beckham diplomatically said that everyone has their own favorite candidate, stopping short of endorsing anyone in particular. However, he made it clear that his loyalty to the club and its supporters remains strong, and he hopes that Manchester United will soon return to being a dominant force in football.
Beckham also addressed the pressure facing current manager Erik ten Hag. He expressed sympathy for Ten Hag, noting the team’s rocky start to the 2023–24 season, which included six losses in their first 11 matches. Beckham acknowledged that the turbulence surrounding the ownership has added even more strain on the manager and players.
As speculation around the club’s ownership continues, Beckham’s remarks reflect the shared desire among supporters to see Manchester United restored to its former glory. The tension surrounding this ownership saga has become a symbol of wider dissatisfaction, particularly due to the Glazers’ reluctance to fully exit after nearly two decades of mixed results and strained relations with the fanbase.
Currently, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has secured a 27.7% minority stake in Manchester United, giving him control over the sporting aspects of the club, including transfers, infrastructure, and scouting. Meanwhile, Joel and Avram Glazer still retain majority ownership and oversee financial and commercial decisions. Ratcliffe has already begun reshaping the club’s structure by appointing Dan Ashworth as Sporting Director and introducing key changes aimed at long-term improvement.
The fanbase remains split—some are cautiously optimistic about the influence Ratcliffe and INEOS could have, while others remain deeply dissatisfied due to the Glazers’ continued involvement. The future of Manchester United now hinges on whether this new shared-control model can bring success on the pitch or whether it will add yet another chapter of dysfunction to the club’s ongoing ownership drama.
