Glazers, Roy Keane and trademark groans - social media reacts to Man Utd legend Gary Neville on Dragons Den

Football fans have voiced everything from support to surprise and bemusement to hilarity after the BBC unveiled the first look at Manchester United legend Gary Neville as part of the hit show Dragons' Den.

The Red Devils hero will feature as a guest Dragon in the programme's 21st series, which is set to air in the new year. Neville has built up an enviable business portfolio in the years since he retired from professional football in 2007.

The Sky Sports pundit has launched ventures across property, hospitality, education, media and sport and has amassed an impressive net worth of £20 million. He'll sit alongside business tycoons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett on the upcoming series of Dragons' Den as entrepreneurs try to win his investment.

News of Neville's role on the show was confirmed earlier this year but on Tuesday the BBC released the first images of the football star in the Den alongside his fellow investors. Social media users online joked that Neville 'must be the busiest guy ever' while another labelled the stunt an 'unnecessary gimmick'.

One Instagram user wrote: "People don't realise the business empire Gary Neville has built since retiring from football. How anyone can say he's not self-made I don't know." Another said: "Nice! Gary Neville is ace, all the best."

There were plenty of people who managed to crack a joke at Neville's casting, especially after his recent rants against Manchester United owners the Glazers. One social media user chimed in: "Bet he’ll find the way to blame the Glazers." Another bantered: “You just know he’s going to take the p*** out of an idea that ends up selling millions.”

Elsewhere, there were calls to sign fellow Manchester United legend Roy Keane up to the show for his blockbuster opinions while others laughed at the idea of Neville letting out a trademark 'ooooooooh' after a questionable pitch.

Reacting to his casting on the show, Neville said: "It’s a pleasure to join the Dragons as a guest for the new series and see some of the amazing pitches from budding entrepreneurs from different walks of life. It was a privilege to share my knowledge and guidance with the brave entrepreneurs who entered the Den, but you’ll have to wait and see whether I committed to any investments!”