Manchester United icon David Beckham has been approached by an unidentified consortium from the United Arab Emirates to front a potential £5 billion takeover of the club, according to reports. The 50-year-old Inter Miami chief, who has a net worth of £300 million, is being considered as an ambassador for the group's bid.
Beckham has previously been critical of the Glazer family's ownership, stating that change is needed at Old Trafford. In an interview with The Athletic, he said: 'I think so. I think it's purely because the fans want it. Once you lose the fans, especially at a club like Manchester United, it's hard to get them back. There needs to be change. We've all seen that, we all know that.'
The former midfielder also did not rule out a future return to the club in some capacity. 'I have a lot going on here at the moment and my focus has purely been on Miami and everything that goes on in my business,' he said. 'But I haven't been approached and I suppose any involvement with Manchester United would mean the world to me, going forward. Who knows? We'll see what happens in the next few weeks or months.'
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in February 2024, which has since grown to nearly 29 per cent, and he oversees the football side of the business. However, performances have not improved, with Ruben Amorim's side finishing 15th in the Premier League last season and losing the Europa League final.
The Glazers, who took over the club in a £790 million deal two decades ago, would only consider offers of more than £5 billion for their stake, more than double the club's current stock market value of around £2 billion. Beckham has also stressed the need for investment in the training facility, stadium, and on the pitch.
