Paul Scholes Backs David Beckham for Shock Man Utd Takeover

Paul Scholes has publicly backed David Beckham to lead a takeover of Manchester United, calling the idea both realistic and overdue.

The former United midfielder made the comments on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, where he was joined by fellow ex-teammate Nicky Butt.

“I don’t see why not,” Scholes said.

“If they’ve got the wealth to do it, he can if he wants to do it, more importantly.”

Scholes added that Beckham would likely take a hands-off role.

“Knowing David as we do, he’d probably just sit in the background anyway.”

The remark comes during a period of intense scrutiny on United’s current ownership structure.

The Glazer family still controls roughly 72% of the club, according to reports citing ESPN sources.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS holds about 27.7% and runs football operations, but a drag-along clause allows the Glazers to force Ratcliffe to sell his stake as part of any third-party takeover.

That clause guarantees Ratcliffe at least $33 per share if a sale closes before February 2027.

After that, the protection falls away.

Nicky Butt tempered the enthusiasm with arithmetic.

He estimated the Glazers’ asking price at around £8 billion and flagged the income United would lose without Champions League football.

Beckham has never publicly ruled out a return.

In May 2025, he told Time magazine: “I’d love to say that I own Manchester United one day.”

He quickly added that the club’s valuation is “slightly out of my price range.”

The remark was part of Time’s 2025 philanthropy interview and remains the clearest public expression of his stance on ownership.

He has never announced a bid, and no consortium has been publicly confirmed with him at the head.

What Beckham has consistently said is that he would welcome a role if one were offered.

In a 2023 interview reported by Sky Sports, he said: “Any involvement with Manchester United would mean the world to me.”

His focus at the time was on Inter Miami and his business ventures, though he argued that change at the top was needed because the fans wanted it.

Beckham has been linked over the past year to a UAE-backed consortium that approached him about an ambassadorial role as part of a proposed £5 billion offer.

No formal bid was ever tabled.

Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse has also backed the idea.

“Could David Beckham replace the Glazers and INEOS at Manchester United? Why not?”

Cisse said to Mr Gamble.

“He’s doing a good job at Inter Miami. He has an aura, he has a name, he’s David Beckham, and he carries real weight in world football. So yes, why not?”

Beckham’s success at Inter Miami adds weight to the argument.

He helped establish the MLS side in 2018, and the club has since moved into a state-of-the-art stadium and attracted some of the biggest names in world football, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and former United midfielder Casemiro.

Any potential takeover would have to navigate a split-control arrangement.