Beckham sends Man Utd warning amid INEOS criticism

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 17 Oct 2024 09:36 BST
• 4 min read

David Beckham believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe is capable of turning Manchester United back into Premier League title challengers, although he has urged fans to be patient with the new co-owner.

Ratcliffe took charge of football operations at Old Trafford at the start of 2024, but his INEOS team have come under fire for several controversial decisions over the past few months.

The summer signings of Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte have already divided opinion amongst Man Utd fans, while the club’s decision to retain Erik ten Hag as manager has seen the Red Devils endure their worst ever start to a Premier League season.

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Furthermore, club legend Eric Cantona recently slammed Ratcliffe on social media for ending Sir Alex Ferguson’s contract as an ambassador at Old Trafford.

However, Beckham believes the INEOS chief will have a positive impact at Man Utd, but he has urged fans to be patient over the next few years.

READ MORE: Man Utd ready to write off massive Ten Hag FLOP transfer

What has David Beckham said about Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

“I think that it definitely needed change,” Beckham admitted to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“Speaking as a United fan, I think that many people had said that the club needed change and it needed a fresh perspective in how this club needs to be run and the decisions that are made.

“I really like Jim. I've met him a few times over the years with a few mutual friends and I think that he's a fan and obviously 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 that's a big part of it,” Beckham continued.

“I think obviously the fans had lost faith with 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.”