Former Premier League striker Djibril Cisse has backed Manchester United icon David Beckham as a credible successor to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, should INEOS opt to sell their stake in the club. The endorsement comes as Ratcliffe faces mounting fan pressure following the team's disappointing start to the campaign.
Cisse, speaking to Mr Gamble, highlighted Beckham's executive experience as co-owner of MLS outfit Inter Miami. "Could David Beckham replace the Glazers and INEOS at Manchester United? Why not?" he said. "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?"
Fan protests at Old Trafford
Supporters at Old Trafford expressed their discontent by launching a demonstration against United's ownership during Tuesday's Champions League match against Roma, with Ratcliffe and the Glazer family bearing the brunt of fan chants. The protest came despite Michael Carrick's squad breaking their nine-match winless streak with a comeback victory.
United fell 2-0 behind against the Italian outfit before a Bruno Fernandes penalty and a Matheus Cunha double salvaged three points. The team will hope to gather momentum against Aston Villa at the weekend.
Ratcliffe's stance on exit
The 74-year-old has faced backlash from supporters since acquiring an initial 25 per cent stake in United in December 2023. His INEOS organisation oversees football-related matters at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe previously told The Times last year that he would step down if he proved as unpopular with fans as his fellow co-owners.
"I mean, I can put up with it for a while," Ratcliffe said. "I don't mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we're having to make at the moment. If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I'm no different to the average person. It's not nice, particularly for friends and family. So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, 'Look, enough's enough guys, let somebody else do this'."
Ratcliffe added: "They can't really come to a match, the Glazers. They've retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I'm getting all the stick. We bought in and I haven't seen them since. It's, 'Thank you, Jim, you're doing a really good job'. At the moment, I don't have security, I don't have to walk around like that. But it would defeat the object, wouldn't it? You couldn't tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn't be fun."
Keane linked with manager role
Should Beckham pursue a takeover at Old Trafford, Cisse suggested that his former Sunderland manager Roy Keane should be appointed United boss. He added: "It would be another club legend coming back. If it were him and Roy Keane, that would be amazing. Keane has the weight of experience and history. He is a strong personality and he's an icon of the club."
