David Beckham publicly calls out Man Utd stars for behaviour away from pitch in damning assessment
Former Manchester United winger David Beckham has called out the current crop of players for their off-field behaviour.
Beckham, 50, made 394 appearances for Man Utd before transferring to Real Madrid in 2003.
The current crop of players took part in a tour of Asia and played two matches, with the first ending in a 1-0 defeat to ASEAN All-Stars while United won the second, against the Hong Kong national team, 3-1, thanks to a Chido Obi double and a strike from Ayden Heaven.
As ever, fans were across the squads’ every move, and Alejandro Garnacho was particularly under the microscope amid talk he could leave the club this summer, having been told to ‘find a new club’ by head coach Ruben Amorim.
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Beckham gave his thoughts during an interview with CBS and was keen to highlight the behaviour of some players.
"It's tough times, but I don't like seeing some of the things that are going on at the club," Beckham said.
"On the pitch is what counts, but in all honesty, I'm seeing a lot of things that are not on the pitch that are not okay in my eyes, as a fan and as a lover of Manchester United."
"I'm talking about sometimes the way players are acting," Beckham added. "You have to represent the badge, and that's what it's about, and I've seen a lot of things where players are not acting in the right manner. We were a part of a team that was so well-mannered. We understood what it meant to play for Manchester United. We understood what the badge meant.
“Wherever we travelled, whether it was in Europe, whether it was in Asia, you respected the fans. You respect the fans. You respect the fans, you respect the fact that they're turning up, paying money and wanting you to sign and take pictures. You respect that. I don't see that. I'm not saying it's all of the players. I'm saying it's one or two that are disrespecting that, and I don't like that."
Despite the side’s lowly 16th-place finishing position in the 2024/25 Premier League, Beckham recently urged the club’s hierarchy to back Amorim, 40, in this summer’s transfer window.
“I believe that we have a very good manager now,” Beckham told The Athletic on May 21,
“I believe that we have a lot of people who are trying to bring stability around the club. What our fans care about most, though, is what happens on the field and what is happening on the field, people are not liking — our fans are not liking."
“I think Ruben definitely needs to be backed in bringing in the players he wants, but I actually don’t know how possible it is,” he continued.
“I don’t speak to Jim that often, only from time to time.
“Ruben needs to be backed as a manager to bring in his team and his philosophy; he’s trying that already, but I think once he brings his team in and his players, then you’ll see something different.”
As of today (June 1), the transfer window is open until June 10 due to an exceptional registration period for the expanded 2025 Club World Cup.
Topics: David Beckham, Manchester United, Premier League, Football, Ruben Amorim
Luke Davies