David Beckham showed his true colours with response to sacking Phil Neville

Phil Neville has opened up about being sacked by his close friend David Beckham, claiming it was "actually harder for David than it was for me".

Neville was appointed manager of Inter Miami, the MLS side Beckham co-owns, in January 2021 but he was fired after two-and-a-half years in charge with the club bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.

And Phil's brother Gary has admitted he was "nervous" when he took the job in the first place because it was "inevitable" that Beckham would have to sack him at some point. "Phil, I was nervous when you took the Inter Miami job," Gary told his brother on an episode of .

"I obviously knew at some point the likelihood would be that our best friend, David Beckham, would have to come and have a conversation with you about a change. I was worried because it's inevitable.

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"Football management is temporary, we know at some point you're going to be moved on. That was my reason for being nervous when you took that job. Did you think about that at the beginning or did you just see it as an unbelievable opportunity?"

In response, Phil admitted: "[It was] both, really. The big thing is that you're not just losing a football game but you feel like you're letting a friend down as well. Becks is really strong, he doesn't buckle and he's really loyal to the people he's close to.

"I also had faith he would give me time, which he did. We didn't do well in the first season but there were many challenges at the club in terms of what was going on. The second season they gave me the platform to build my own team, I got rid of 19 players in the off-season and then we got into the play-offs.

"I knew the end was coming well before the time, it was pretty obvious to everyone in and around the football club. We had to have some difficult conversations along the way but they were always pretty honest and frank.

"I would start every conversation with, 'David, if this is the time just tell me, we will shake hands and move on.' I probably did well to survive for as long as I did but I'm forever grateful for what they gave me. Also I left in a way that helped me get my next job in the MLS. So me and David have been fine."

Reflecting on the exact moment Beckham told him he was getting the sack, he added: "The day I actually got fired was probably actually harder for David than it was for me. He really didn't want to do it, he was really emotional. I was emotional too but I knew it was coming so it was probably easier for me."

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