David Beckham 'open' to role in Man Utd sale

FT Desk

• 24 Nov 2022 08:49 GMT
• 3 min read

Prospective buyers are keen to enlist David Beckham as part of a consortium after the Glazer family put his former club Manchester United on the market.

The Glazers are understood to be looking for at least €5.8 billion for the club, an amount that would be out of Beckham's reach individually, but those with more money than the former midfielder think his presence in a takeover bid could tip the balance in their favour.

Beckham won six Premier League titles and a Champions League in 1999 as a Man Utd player before leaving in a €37.5 million deal for Real Madrid in 2003. Since retiring from playing, he is in co-ownership of both Salford City and Inter Miami.

READ: How much are the Glazers selling Man Utd for?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former England captain would be delighted to add Man Utd to his portfolio.

"David Beckham is open to holding talks with potential bidders for Manchester United, according to people with knowledge of the matter," report the Financial Times.

"While Beckham cannot afford to fund the purchase on his own, his wealth and longstanding history with United could prove an important part of an investment consortium."

Beckham's net worth is in the region of €430m, making his star power and standing with the United fans his USP for any potential consortium.

READ: Beckham on Super League: 'Football is in danger and it must be protected'

A British consortium?

Who might bring the bulk of the capital remains to be seen, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe - one of the UK's richest men with a net worth of around €27bn - is an early frontrunner having already bid for the club in the summer.

Basketball moguls Stephen Pagliuca and Larry Tanenbaum, who were shortlisted to buy Chelsea before the Todd Boehly-led takeover at Stamford Bridge, have been credited with an interest in United, as have private equity pair Josh Harris and David Blitzer.

"There's not many teams to have gone through what they've gone through in the past few years and still be filling out their stadium," Beckham said at the Miami Grand Prix in May. " There will be changes."