David Beckham slams ‘disrespectful’ Manchester United players

It’s more than 20 years since David Beckham left Manchester United, his boyhood club and the team with which he found the greatest success.

A lot has changed for both parties since then. For United, a lot of that change has not been for the better. A torrid 2024/25 campaign culminated with a bleak postseason tour of Asia, which saw players involved in controversial incidents.

“I don’t like seeing what’s happening at the club,” Beckham said on CBS Sports. “It’s true that it’s the pitch that matters, but I see a lot of things that are not acceptable to me as a fan and a lover of Manchester United. You have to represent the badge. I’ve seen a lot of things where players didn’t act in the right way.”

It’s thought that Beckham was alluding to two examples of alleged player misbehavior. Winger Amad Diallo was seen holding up a middle finger to crowds outside the team hotel, later claiming that they were insulting his mother.

Teammate Alejandro Garnacho also found himself in hot water after giving the middle finger to fans after a game in Hong Kong.

Those reactions were likely born of understandable frustration after a stressful season for all involved. Both are also young players who have shouldered a lot of pressure during their careers at Old Trafford.

But Beckham insisted that those sort of outbursts would not have happened during his time at the club, when there was a stronger culture of respect for supporters.

“We understood what it meant to play for Manchester United. We understood what the badge meant,” the Englishman added.

“Everywhere we travelled, whether in Europe or Asia, we respected the fans. We respected the fact that they came and paid money to see us, to get an autograph or to take pictures. You have to respect that.”

Manchester United’s 2024/25 season has now officially come to a close. But the real work starts now if the club hierarchy is to prepare a team that can avoid another embarrassing season next year.

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