Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham could be a key figure in a battle for control of the club. His former team-mates have backed the idea of his return.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Paul Scholes gave his view on the possibility of Beckham joining the club's leadership:
I don't see why not. If the investors have the necessary funds, he can do it. The main thing is that he has to want to do it himself.
Scholes also suggested Beckham could work behind the scenes, as he does at Inter Miami.
However, former United midfielder Nicky Butt identified the current owners' financial demands as the main obstacle to a deal:
The biggest problem is that the Glazers will want their slice of the pie. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they currently value the club at around £8 billion.
Butt questioned whether that valuation was justified given the team's current sporting and commercial performance.
Beckham already has substantial management experience: he co-owns Inter Miami with brothers Jorge and Jose Mas and also has a stake in Salford City. But he cannot finance a purchase of Manchester United on his own. A deal of that kind would require a major investment consortium.
No official bid has been made on Beckham's behalf. The Glazers retain a substantial stake in voting shares, while Jim Ratcliffe oversees sporting operations. For now, Beckham's return to Old Trafford as an owner remains an ambitious project facing a substantial price tag.
