Over the years, Manchester United has been the home to countless players who have become fan favourites and made a name for themselves at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville was the club’s number-one right-back for numerous years, with no player able to dislodge the now pundit from his starting role, allowing him to rack up a huge total of appearances.
The Englishman made over 600 appearances over a near-two-decade spell in the first-team, playing a crucial role under Sir Alex Ferguson, helping the Red Devils win various trophies during his reign.
Gary-Neville-David-Beckham
He was part of the infamous Class of 92 which saw players such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt join the defender in the senior side, undoubtedly being one of the most successful crop of academy graduates in history.
The talents were also joined at Old Trafford by one other star who endured a phenomenal career as a professional, catching the eye with his superb set-piece ability.
David Beckham’s stats at Manchester United
After retiring from the professional game, David Beckham has taken his fame and notoriety to the next level, but his time in the United first team set him on his path to stardom.
The Englishman stood out from the crowd in that era, with his technique and quality on the ball catching the eye and allowing him to become one of the best midfielder's during the 1990s.
david-beckham-premier-league-most-assists
He became infamous for his set-piece ability, scoring 18 free-kicks during his 265 appearances in the Premier League - the most of any player in the division’s history.
Beckham would go on to make 390 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 85 times and registering 121 assists - contributing to six league title wins during his spell at the club.
However, he would subsequently leave Old Trafford in July 2003, joining European giants Real Madrid, ending his 11-year spell in the first-team at Old Trafford.
There are very few players who possess the quality Beckham did on the ball, but the Red Devils had one player who was tipped to emulate him before being prematurely offloaded.
The former United ace who could’ve been the next Beckham
Former boss Erik ten Hag ultimately struggled to be a success during his time in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, leading to his sacking earlier this campaign.
Ten-Hag-Man-Utd-Aston-Villa
The Dutchman spent upwards of £600m on new signings to try and turn the club’s fortunes around, with many of the additions made failing to live up to expectations.
Such dealings led to numerous talents being offloaded to balance the books, including academy graduate James Garner, who left in a £9m deal to join Everton in the summer of 2022.
Everton midfielder James Garner
The now 24-year-old spent 13 years as a player on United’s books, only making seven senior appearances, with loan spells at the likes of Watford and Nottingham Forest before his permanent move.
His spell at the latter of the two clubs highlighted his technical ability, often producing moments of magic similar to those of Beckham with his dipping efforts on goal.
Former Manchester City ace Trevor Sinclair claimed that 'James Garner’s deliveries remind me of David Beckham’s' with the whip he’s able to put on the ball creating opportunities for himself or his teammates.
“James Garner’s deliveries remind me of David Beckham’s. He’s got that dip and that whip and it causes so many problems.
"The pace on the ball, he’s putting it on a sixpence every time. The advantage is with the attackers because they know where he’s aiming depending on what signal he puts up.
"It’s an absolutely phenomenal cross that he’s got in the locker.”
Trevor Sinclair on James Garner.
Injuries have halted his progress at Goodison Park this season, restricting him to just 14 appearances across all competitions, but he’s still been able to operate in a box-to-box role, just like Beckham did during his time in Manchester.
His stats produced this campaign are evidence of the talent he possesses, with the Englishman undoubtedly having the tools to be a success in Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad, but unfortunately, he will never get that chance after Ten Hag’s decision to sell him.
James Garner's stats for Everton in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Pass accuracy
Tackle success rate
Tackles won
Duels won
Interceptions made
Stats via FotMob
£9m fee is an absolute bargain in today’s market, with the 24-year-old undoubtedly slipping through the Red Devils’ net and showcasing his former employer what they’re missing by allowing him to depart.