30 May 2024 , 12:14
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Darts superstar Luke Littler has shared the heartfelt message he received from football legend David Beckham.
The young Manchester United fan has quickly become a household name after his incredible journey to the World Championship final at the start of the year. Littler, 17, captivated the sporting world as he continued to defy the odds before finishing as runner-up to Luke Humphries.
The teenager recently became Premier League Darts champion and avenged his loss to Humphries in the final. His rapid rise has seen Littler receive many well wishes from star names in sport, but it was a message from former England skipper Beckham on Instagram that most shocked the darts prodigy.
When asked by Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour which celebrity message had left him stunned, Littler replied: “It’s Beckham. He sent me a message. He just said, ‘Well done on the world championships’ and he was like, ‘Once a red, always a red’."
Littler is too young to have watched Beckham in his heyday at Old Trafford but has spent time around the current United squad. During the interview, the Premier League Darts champion recalled interacting with some of his football heroes on a visit to Carrington.
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“I met them at the training ground, it was crazy. McTominay and Maguire, they were the big ones who were excited to see me,” he said. “It’s just like Rashford walking past me, shaking his hand. Martial, Varane, Casemiro and I’m just like what’s going on? I got a signed shirt off Garnacho.”
Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham sent a message to Luke Littler (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)The teenager's Premier League title triumph last week came just days before United went on to lift the FA Cup in surreal week for Littler. He admitted that the possibility of overwhelming attention from fans caused him to avoid attending the clash at Wembley, but interestingly insists that Erik ten Hag should remain as United boss for next season.
"I want him to stay no matter what. Even if we lost,” Littler said. "If you look down the line of managers we've had like Louis van Gaal who won the FA Cup and then got sacked after a season, I think Mourinho's the only one who had two to three years. David Moyes, he only had 10 months.
"So I just think we [should] keep him. Because we're getting these managers for a year or two and they're not doing anything. So if we give them time things might change. I like what he does. Just give him time. Give him next season and if he doesn't do owt, let him go."
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