David Beckham reveals his thoughts on Ratcliffe at Man Utd, Inter Miami, Messi and Alex Ferguson

Manchester United is going through a frustrating patch, with United sitting 14th in the Premier League after seven games and winless in two Europa League fixtures.

Beckham, who won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League during his playing career with United, believes fans will need to be patient with Ratcliffe and his team. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

David Beckham is hopeful that minority owner Jim Ratcliffe will turn Manchester United’s fortunes around but says it will take time to return to the “good old days”.

British billionaire Ratcliffe’s INEOS took charge of the club’s football operations earlier this year but United has had an underwhelming start to the new campaign as it looks to build on last year’s FA Cup success.

Pressure has mounted on manager Erik ten Hag, with United sitting 14th in the Premier League after seven games and winless in two Europa League fixtures.

Beckham, who won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League during his playing career with United, believes fans will need to be patient with Ratcliffe and his team.

David Beckham in action for Manchester United during a match against Arsenal in the F.A. Cup at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in United from owners the Glazers in February.

The Americans have been deeply unpopular with supporters ever since a leveraged takeover of the club in 2005 saddled the club with huge debts.

Beckham said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that the club had needed change and a “fresh perspective”.

“I really like Jim,” he said. “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’s a big part of it. 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.”

Beckham has been president of Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami since it was founded in 2018.

Inter Miami, which signed Lionel Messi last year, have won this season’s MLS Supporters’ Shield -- awarded to the team with the best regular season record -- and will be targeting their first championship when the play-offs start later this month.

TOPSHOT - Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi (2nd L) is presented by (from R) owners of Inter Miami CF David Beckham, Jose R. Mas and Jorge Mas as the newest player for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 16, 2023. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP) | Photo Credit: GIORGIO VIERA

Beckham said he looked to his old Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson for guidance when founding the club.

“I went to him once and said to him, ‘I’m starting this team, how would you run it?’,” he said.

“And he sat me down for a couple of hours and he told me what I should do and what players I should be looking for and how I should run the academy.

“And that’s really what I’ve tried to do. And then I also learnt from people like (Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez. You know, with Florentino, he has this crazy vision of always bringing the greatest players to the club and building this unbelievable stadium.”

United hosts mid-table Brentford on Saturday, seeking its first win in the Premier League since mid-September.