Roberto Carlos has named a Manchester United player who he deemed as better than Zidane, Ronaldo and more
Manchester United have had a positive relationship with Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving to join them in 2009 for a record breaking £80million. Ruud van Nistelrooy also joined the Spaniards from United in 2006.
United signed Raphael Varane from Real in 2021 who put up consistent performances during his time at Old Trafford, bringing experience to the side. The centre back played a key part in United winning the FA Cup and League Cup before leaving to join Como following a number of injuries.
Angel Di Maria, on the other hand went down as a completely negative signing, the Argentinian joined United for a British transfer fee record £59.7 million and only played for one season before leaving to join PSG.
Other players including Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez have played for both clubs. In a recent podcast, legendary fullback Roberto Carlos has named a legend who played for both United and Real Madrid who he thought was the best of all his team mates.
David Beckham picked out by Carlos as ‘the best’ of all his team mates
Roberto Carlos has played with a legendary list of players in his career but in a recent interview on The Obi One podcast, hosted by Premier League legend John Obi Mikel, Carlos named Sir David Beckham as the best player he ever played with.
Beckham played alongside Carlos after leaving United in 2003, the pair were part of one of the greatest football teams of all time featuring legends such as Zidane, Figo and Ronaldo Nazario.
When Obi Mikel asked Carlos to name the best player he ever played with, he said “Beckham, of course Beckham.[Zinedine] Zidane was top. But David Beckham was a close friend of mine and a role model. The best in training and the best during games. Running all the time and making incredible passes. He played with all his heart.”
Carlos went on to explain his decision further saying ” No matter what people say about Ronaldo, Zidane, Raul, Luis Figo, in the four years of the Galacticos, in my opinion, Beckham was the most consistent and the best.”.
Beckham’s work rate and consistency pushed him onto the world stage from a young age. The Englishman won six Premier League titles two FA Cups and a Champions League with United and has sewn his name into the history of the club.
United miss players of Beckham’s attributes in the modern era
Carlos continued to describe Beckham, saying “Beckham was for the team. Beckham would attack and defend. He would pass. He did everything the team needed. Things that the public didn’t see, but we as a team on the pitch saw all these attributes.”. With United struggling to get back to the consistency they had when Beckham was playing, having more players with his work rate would help them get back on track.
United have had problems with work rate since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson with players such as Alejandro Garnacho leaving the club after falling out with managers. It can be argued that Bruno Fernandes is the exception to this, hardly missing a minute in a United shirt and becoming a fan favourite for his consistency over his 300 appearances.
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More players with this quality of work rate, passion and consistency would see United pushed back into the position that they should be as one of the world’s best clubs. Carlos described Beckham as ‘very complete’ due to his “quality, his footwork, his assists, his free kicks”.
To create an improved work rate amongst the squad, Rúben Amorim must look towards the academy graduates who understand the importance of the club. Players such as Kobbie Mainoo give their all on the pitch but need a way back into the lineup to write their names along side Beckham in United history.
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