David Beckham is optimistic that Jim Ratcliffe will be able to turn Manchester United’s fortunes around.

Ratcliffe's Ineos took charge of the club’s football operations from the Glazer family in February. However, United have had a disappointing start to the new campaign as they look to build on last year’s FA Cup success.

Pressure has been mounting on manager Erik ten Hag, with United currently sitting 14th in the Premier League after seven matches 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 that fans will need to be patient with Ratcliffe and his team.

“I think it definitely needed change,” Beckham said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“I think, speaking as a United fan, many people have said that the club needed change and a fresh perspective on how this club should be run and the decisions that are made.

“I really like Jim. I’ve met him a few times over the years through mutual friends, and I believe he’s a fan and, obviously, a great businessman as well—one of the best and one of the biggest.

“But more importantly, the fans can see that he cares, and I think that’s a big part of it. The fans have lost faith in the leadership over the years, and he genuinely cares about what he wants to achieve and what he wants to create.

“So, hopefully, things will change, but these things take time.

“I think we have been quite patient as United fans over the years, but we want those good old days back. We want those days back, and the sooner, the better.”

Beckham is well aware of what it takes to run a football club, as he has been president of MLS side Inter Miami since its founding in 2018.

Inter Miami, who signed Lionel Messi last year, 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 begin later this month.

The former England captain stated that he sought guidance from his old Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, when establishing the club.

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

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

“And that’s really what I’ve tried to do. I also learned from people like (Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez. He has this incredible vision of always bringing the greatest players to the club and building an unbelievable stadium.”