David Beckham's Romeo mandate to Inter Miami coach
The owner of Inter Miami told manager Phil Neville to be ‘harder on son Romeo than anyone else’ prior to his professional debut last weekend.
Romeo Beckham made his professional debut last Sunday and he started the game for Fort Lauderdale CF in the 2-2 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC in the USL League One. The son of the former Manchester United legend played for 79 minutes in the team that’s affiliated to MLS side Inter Miami CF.
The order Beckham gave to Phil Neville
Romeo signed his professional contract at the beginning of September and the 19-year-old wants to play in the first team that just happens to be owned by his dad, David Beckham. Inter Miami CF is managed by Phil Neville and prior to Romeo’s professional debut, he revealed the order that David Beckham gave him regarding his son.
“I think the first thing that David said to me was, ‘You have got to be harder on him than anyone else’,” Neville said in an interview with a UK baaed outlet. “He [Romeo] has got to work harder than anyone else to get into that team [Inter Miami] because there will be questions, there will be expectations on his shoulders.”
Romeo made his professional debut playing in the right wing and he was not able to score or give an assist in the 79 minutes he was on the field. But the 19-year-old had a good performance and played alongside Harvey Neville, son of Inter Miami’s coach Phil, who also started the game and played in the midfield.
"He [Romeo] knows he has got a lot of development to do, and he has got all the right attributes, character, determination and good person to have a really good opportunity of making it in professional football," said Neville.