Former Manchester United star David Beckham described Sunday’s 2-1 derby victory over Manchester City as a ‘big win’ in a cryptic message on social media.
United, managed in a derby by new boss Ruben Amorim for the first time, were losing until the 88th minute courtesy of a first-half strike from Josko Gvardiol.
But Bruno Fernandes equalised from a penalty before Amad Diallo – who had won the spot-kick – netted a late winner.
Despite Sunday’s impressive result, United remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table after making a poor start to the season, largely under former boss Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has now overseen four wins in seven games since replacing Ten Hag, having made significant changes in terms of tactics and team selection.
The ex-Sporting manager took the bold decision to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of his squad for Sunday’s game, despite later admitting that both players had been fit.
Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday
Sunday’s game saw new Man United boss Ruben Amorim win his first ever Manchester derby
Amorim left Marcus Rashford (left) and Alejandro Garnacho (right) out of his squad on Sunday
While it is not clear that he was referring directly to Rashford and Garnacho, Beckham appeared to fire a subtle dig at some of United’s players in a 15-word message posted to Instagram on Sunday night.
Beckham – who is now the president and co-owner of Inter Miami – wrote: ‘And the rebuild begins. Big win. Big win with players who wanna wear this jersey.’
This message was accompanied by a photo of star man Amad kissing the United badge on his shirt at the Etihad Stadium.
Former United captain Roy Keane – who played alongside Beckham at Old Trafford in the 1990s and 2000s – was working as a pundit for Sky Sports during Sunday’s game.
On Rashford and Garnacho, Keane said: ‘We need to see how they react to this big disappointment of being left out of the squad in a big game – a big call from the manager… he’s putting a marker down to these players.
‘I feel probably a move for Marcus definitely would suit the player. He’s been at the club a long time, a new challenge [would be good].’
Keane added: ‘Whatever the talent, at a big club if your attitude is not right, and his certainly hasn’t been great recently… sometimes it’s good to part ways.’
Rashford has spent his entire club career to date at United.
David Beckham described the result as a ‘big win with players who wanna wear this jersey’
Beckham, pictured back in 1996, played 394 times for Man United between 1992 and 2003
Amad kissed the Man United badge on his shirt after scoring against City at the Etihad Stadium
Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances for the Red Devils – at a rate of one every 3.09 games. But he has only found the net 15 times in 67 appearances over this season and last – averaging a goal every 4.47 games.
The 27-year-old’s current contract at Old Trafford is due to expire in June 2028. However, Spanish publication Fichajes recently claimed that United could be open to letting him go in January.
Argentina winger Garnacho has been a United player since October 2020 when he arrived from Atletico Madrid.
The 20-year-old has so far scored 23 goals in 110 games for the Premier League club.
