Gary Neville has opened up on how he and fellow Manchester United legend David Beckham were “absolutely destroying teams” after talking up their “telepathic” link.
Beckham and Neville, both of whom were part of United’s iconic ‘Class of 92,’ enjoyed incredible success at Old Trafford under club legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Neville linked up with Beckham, who played out on the right wing for United, as a right-back and both players were key parts of Ferguson’s teams of the past.
Inter Miami president Beckham lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League and two FA Cups with United before his departure to Real Madrid in 2003.
Neville, meanwhile, spent his entire career at United and captured eight Premier League trophies, two Champions Leagues, three FA Cups and three League Cups.
United legend Neville praises Beckham
Beckham will be the focus of a forthcoming four-part documentary series on Netflix, which will arrive on the streaming platform on Wednesday.
Neville, who has kept close ties with Beckham even after his ex-teammate’s United career, is serving as executive producer for the ‘Beckham’ documentary.
Speaking on Beckham, the Sky Sports pundit praised the former United and Madrid superstar’s work ethic and how Beckham “wanted to be more than a football player.”
“He was with his crossing. I was supporting him in a way which was to be fair, I would say I was a side dish really. Not the beef. I was the mustard on the side,” Neville said (via the Independent).
“I was subservient because I needed David to go and do something magical. He was practicing free-kicks and I was practicing throw-ins.”
He added: “It was telepathic on the pitch. Off the pitch as well, I knew where he was in his mind — it was not enough for him, he wanted to be more than a football player.”
Beckham’s struggles laid bare in documentary
Beckham’s life, both on the pitch and off it, will be shared with the world as part of Netflix’s documentary on the former United and England winger.
The 48-year-old shot to superstardom during his illustrious playing career and went on to captain his country, earning 115 caps for England and scoring 17 times.
Beckham admitted he struggled with the backlash he received after he his infamous incident with former Argentina international Diego Simeone at the 1998 World Cup.
The former England skipper lashed out at Simeone and received a red card, with the Three Lions crashing out of the last 16 on penalties at the hands of Argentina.
Recalling the incident, a tearful Beckham said: “I wish there was a pill you could take which could erase certain memories. I made a stupid mistake. It changed my life.
“We were in America [on holiday following the World Cup], just about to have our first baby, and I thought, ‘We will be fine. In a day or two people will have forgotten.’ Wherever I went I got abused every single day.
“To walk down the street and to see people look at you in a certain way, spit at you, abuse you, come up to your face and say some of the things they said, that is difficult.
“I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was a mess. I didn’t know what to do.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
