12 February 2023 , 09:07
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Manchester United are ready to further improve the facilities at Carrington with a summer revamp.
The club's training ground, which has copped criticism for being below standards in the modern game, will see a new wellness suite built, which will be location for players to perform yoga if they wish. Former United star Ryan Giggs has been vocal in how the activity helped prolong his own career.
It is the latest improvement seen at Carrington with investment made late summer in the swimming pool area. New ice baths, steam rooms and jacuzzis were installed as well as new tiling whilst in the briefing room a new tiered system was introduced as well as improved audio and visual equipment.
Cristiano Ronaldo went public with his criticism as he took aim at United's training ground infrastructure. The forward returned to a second spell in 2020 having previously been in Manchester from 2003 - 2009 and was left shocked at the lack of change.
He told Piers Morgan: "The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. He [Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see. They are blind."
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United have plans to further redevelop their training base having appointed KSS as planners for the long-term plan and they have recruited Mads Mernagh as programme director for the project. Mernagh was heavily involved in Leicester City's new state-of-the-art training ground, which is seen as the elite base in the Premier League following its opening two years ago.
The club's Carrington training base has been largely neglected under the Glazers ((Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images))The potential improvement plans include building an accommodation block that would allow players and staff to stay on-site, as well as creating more casual areas for players to relax. Any future investment may well rest on the club's ownership with the Glazers looking for a major investor - or a complete sale - in the near future.
Gary Neville has long been critical of the Glazers and has previously lamented them for neglecting the club's training base as well as Old Trafford.
He said: "In 20 years, Manchester United have not invested in the stadium, and they've not invested in the training ground that much. It's a club that's really struggling and I've said in the last couple of years that the only thing I think can change it now is the ownership. There is an embedded rot at the club."
He added: "They've still not dealt with the football operation; they've still not dealt with the player and recruitment department; they've still not dealt with the stadium which is rusting and needs massive money spent on it. Manchester United need a billion pounds in this next two-three years to either rebuild or renovate that stadium."