Manchester United’s staff have received instructions to clear out their Carrington workstations in preparation for renovations aimed at updating the club’s antiquated training facilities.
Cristiano Ronaldo was outspoken about the outdated state of the club’s training grounds upon his departure last year, a sentiment that has been echoed by the club’s new co-owners, Ineos, who are spearheading significant improvements this summer to return the club to its former stature.
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The overhaul at Carrington is a major step by Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe following his substantial investment in the club earlier this year.
Ratcliffe has allocated £1.03 billion for a quarter stake in the club and an additional £237 million for infrastructural enhancements, including the training grounds.
Although some planning permissions are still pending, The Telegraph reports that Carrington’s staff have been advised to tidy up before their summer break.
Despite the impending renovations to the main building, the United team will continue to utilize Carrington’s pitches upon their return, gearing up for their pre-season tour in the USA come mid-July.
This reorganization follows Ratcliffe’s policy change, which put an end to flexible remote working hours. Staff will be temporarily relocated within the training complex and to Old Trafford during the refurbishment.
This interim inconvenience is deemed a necessary step towards the long-term revitalization of a club that has struggled over the past decade.
Ineos has highlighted the necessity for comprehensive infrastructural improvements, with a primary focus on the men’s first-team building, following an £11 million investment in the Women’s and Academy facilities last year.
Having opened 24 years ago, Carrington has long been overdue for an update, taking over from the Cliff, which served as United’s training ground since the 1930s.
The criticism of Carrington’s failure to modernize is not unprecedented, especially when compared to the modern amenities of rival clubs, such as Manchester City’s impressive Etihad Campus, which even offers accommodation for players.
Ronaldo was among the vocal critics of the substandard conditions at Carrington.
Upon leaving Man United in 2022 for Saudi Arabia, he said of the club’s base: “Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate – lovely people. They stopped in time. It surprised me a lot.
“I thought I would see other things, technologies, and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see a lot of what I used to see at 21, 22, and 23 years old. It really surprised me.”
