Gary Neville is tipped for a permanent spot on Dragon’s Den panel ahead of guest stint as veteran star reveals he’s ‘prepared to invest’
Gary Neville has already been tipped for a permanent spot on the Dragon's Den panel ahead of a guest stint on the BBC show.
The Manchester United star will appear as a guest investor in an episode airing in the new year and has already impressed bosses.
With millions already invested in property and a huge following thanks to his sporting skills and expert stints, Gary impressed series veteran Deborah Meaden.
Speak with The sun, Deborah said, “You'd think he'd been a Dragon all his life. Instinctively he asked the right questions.
'He has a very good business mind. He was fantastic, I'm not kidding, and he's willing to invest.”
Gary Neville has already been tipped for a permanent spot on the Dragon's Den panel ahead of a guest stint on the BBC show
Neville, who made more than 600 appearances for Man United and earned 85 England caps, will feature alongside regular tycoons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
Despite several business ventures ranging from co-owning League Two club Salford City with his former teammates to his luxury hotels in Manchester, some have wondered whether the Red Devil has what it takes to become a dragon.
Some fans couldn't resist speaking out about Man United's takeover problems, which Neville himself was extremely outspoken about. The unpopular Glazer family, who own Man United, were expected to sell the club, but after almost a year of discussions it appears Sir Jim Ratcliffe will only acquire a 25 percent stake.
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Long-term judge Deborah Meaden praised Neville on his first appearance, writing: “A first in @BBCDragonsden next year when we have some guest dragons… first @GNev2 who was completely brilliant and owned that chair!!”
Neville replied to her warm tweet, writing: 'Thanks Deborah. I loved it and can't thank you and all the dragons enough for welcoming me.”
Since retiring in 2011, Gary has built a huge real estate development portfolio that earns him tens of millions a year.
His major ventures include Hotel Football, a luxury hotel overlooking Old Trafford, and The Stock Exchange Hotel near Piccadilly Gardens, one of the top hotels in Manchester, with former teammate Ryan Giggs.
The Manchester United star will appear as a guest investor in an episode airing in the new year and has already impressed bosses (pictured on Sky Sports last week)
However, it hasn't all been plain sailing for the ex-footballer. The new restaurant in his Stock Exchange Hotel closed just four months after opening its doors in July.
And he has also suffered setbacks amid claims one of his luxury hotels in Manchester lost £3.2 million due to the pandemic and owed '£10 million in loans'.
Neville has also in the past advertised for minimum wage workers to staff one of his luxury hotels – which can charge more than £800 a night for a suite.
In a teaser of Neville's first appearance as a judge, the former United captain wore a sharp navy blue suit jacket and charcoal black trousers.
The BBC has not yet revealed when the season will air in 2024, but Meaden suggested it will be 'early in the new year'.
The programme, which first aired on BBC Two in 2005, gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas to some of Britain's most successful business people.
Speaking about the opportunity, Neville said: “It's a pleasure to be joining the Dragons as a guest for the new series and seeing some of the great pitches from budding entrepreneurs from different walks of life.
'It was a privilege to share my knowledge and guidance with the courageous entrepreneurs who entered the Den, but you will have to wait and see if I have committed to investment!'
