Former Manchester United star Gary Neville says he has no plans to join his former teammate David Beckham at Inter Miami.
Beckham is the co-owner of the Major League Soccer franchise, which was founded back in 2018. However, the team are currently struggling in MLS this season, as they lie at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Neville’s brother, Phil, was sacked as Miami’s manager earlier this month, and the team currently have just 15 points from their 18 games. The news of Phil Neville’s exit was confirmed just days before the news that Lionel Messi would be moving to MLS.
The Barcelona legend will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June as a free agent when his contract expires. Messi will move to Miami in July, and will be joined by another of his former Barcelona teammates in midfielder Sergio Busquets, with that deal already confirmed.
Neville is currently a star pundit for Sky Sports, and is still very much connected to Manchester even after leaving his boyhood club as a player in 2011. The 48-year-old has pursued several business ventures, including being the co-owner of English Football League club Salford City.
With his brother no longer employed by Miami, Neville has been asked whether he would consider making the switch across the Atlantic to work in Florida alongside Beckham. The duo were good friends off the pitch during and after their time at Man United, but Neville says he is not planning to move to the United States.
“I don’t think so,” Neville told The Guardian, when asked if he would consider joining Miami. “I’m too embedded in Greater Manchester.
“I love it here. It’s where my businesses are and where my life’s been. I want to give back to this place and be part of this brilliant community.”
Neville and Beckham are such good friends that the former right-back was the best man to the Miami co-owner for his wedding to Victoria Beckham in 1999. And Neville has opened up on how it felt to be a key part of Beckham’s special day more than two decades ago.
“Imagine, I was only 24 and best man for one of the most famous footballers who’s ever lived,” said Neville. “Victoria and the Spice Girls were a phenomenon, too.
“I had to speak for 15 minutes in a room full of famous performers and try to be funny. I’m no standup comic so it was hard work but I think it went OK. I prepared well!”
