David Beckham verdict on sacking Man United teammate speaks volumes after ‘difficult’ talks

David Beckham has opened up on the difficult decision to sack Phil Neville as Inter Miami boss after the former Manchester United team-mates were reunited in the MLS.

David Beckham has spoken out about the difficult decision to dismiss his close friend and former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville from his role as Inter Miami coach – describing it as one of the toughest actions he’s had to take.

Neville was let go by Beckham and his MLS franchise in June 2023 after the team’s defeat at the hands of the New York Red Bulls, which left them languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Speaking candidly on the ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents’ podcast (via the Daily Star), Beckham shared insights into the difficult process: “Phil has been in management for a long time, and he knows what happens in management.

“I think when I first bought in Phil to manage the team in Miami, I knew what he was going to do. I knew he was going to steady the ship. I knew that he was going to bring the work ethic that I’d seen over the years.”

Reflecting further, Beckham added: “Everything had to be perfect, you know, with Phil. And he brought everyone together and he changed that club overnight.

“The work that Phil did, it was incredible. But Phil knew, and he said at the time, ‘If I’m not getting the results, I know what’s going to happen.

“And we’re close enough to have that conversation. You know, when he first came in, I said, ‘Phil, I don’t want this to affect our friendship. He said, ‘I get it. It won’t. When the time’s right, if it’s right, we’ll both know.’ And we had a very sensible conversation, but I will never underestimate what he did for the club.

“I think it was one of the most difficult things I’d had to do, even though me and Phil had spoken about it, you know, when he first came on as Miami coach. I knew that if it came to this moment, it was going to be difficult no matter what time it happened and when it happened.”

Neville was also part of United’s illustrious Class of 92 and Beckham added: “I’d called him and said, we’re going to meet. We walked in the room and we hugged. It was quite emotional on my side, just purely because I didn’t want to sack a friend.”