Manchester United are set to provide an update about their stadium project on Tuesday after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reiterated his desire for a new Old Trafford.
The British billionaire has been open about wanting a new, state-of-the-art ground ever since his minority purchase was ratified in February 2024.
United have been examining whether to redevelop their existing venue or build a new stadium in the same area in conjunction with the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force.
Lord Sebastian Coe has chaired the task force and is expected to speak alongside Ratcliffe at a stadium project update held in London on Tuesday.
Speaking on the eve of that event to former United captain Gary Neville on the Overlap podcast, Ratcliffe said: ‘It’s definitely deliverable but I think it needs to be set in context again.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘If you take the view that it’s the greatest football club in the world, then if it’s going to build a new stadium it should be a new stadium that’s befitting the greatest club in the world.
‘And also a stadium that befits the greatest league in the world because the Premier League is the greatest league in the world.
New Man Utd stadium possibilities
A weather-proof year-round entertainment zone, allowing fans to mingle before and after matches, as well as on non-matchdays
A club-owned hotel
A new academy complex for youth and women’s matches
On-site accommodation for youth team players
Improvements to canal transport for matchdays
A new bridge linking Wharfside with Quayside
A new train station behind the current South Stand
A ‘Wembley way’ walkway to the stadium
‘And at the moment, if you look at the Premier League, we’ve got some great stadiums, but we don’t have a Bernabeu, do we? And we don’t have the new Nou Camp. We don’t have that in the Premier League, although it’s the greatest league in the world.
‘And also, if you look at the north of England, the north of England has won 10 Champions League finals and London has won two, so there’s quite a few reasons there to have the world’s most iconic football stadium in the north of England at the world’s greatest club.’
Ratcliffe said United ‘don’t need any government funding’ for a new stadium, but stressed that it would have to be part of a government-supported project to regenerate the area around Old Trafford.
The Premier League club appointed Foster + Partners, founded by Lord Norman Foster, last September to develop a masterplan for the area surrounding Old Trafford as part of that ambitious regeneration project.
‘I won’t say much more but Norman Foster, who also is a Mancunian and is the world’s greatest architect in my view, has really created the most iconic – well you’ve seen it (the design) – absolutely incredible,’ Ratcliffe said in conversation with Neville, revealing that the club’s former captain had seen the designs.
‘It would be marvellous if Manchester United could go down that road and in five years’ time or six years’ time have that stadium. It would be fabulous.’
Neville is part of the stadium taskforce assembled by Ineos to aid the decision-making process, and he has also seen drawings of the potential stadium. His reaction says it all.
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville said: ‘I sat on the last taskforce committee meeting on Friday and I had a glimpse of what is coming and it looks absolutely spectacular.’
