Manchester United's grand plan is for a 100,000-seater world-beating stadium
But Paul Merson bulldozed the idea, calling it 'pathetic' and out of touch
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By LUKE POWER
Published: 07:55 EDT, 13 March 2025 | Updated: 08:06 EDT, 13 March 2025
Paul Merson swung a wrecking ball at Manchester United's £2billion stadium plans as he branded them 'pathetic' and insisted Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making a grave error.
The pundit believes the plans are pointless, distract from the club's on-field plight, and should have fans up in arms.
Manchester United will try to build 'the world's greatest stadium' with a 100,000 capacity in the space of five years, the club announced on Tuesday.
But Mail Sport's Simon Jordan questioned the lack of concrete funding plans while fans took a sledgehammer to the design concept, likening it to a 'circus tent'.
'You know what, no interest at all. I think it's pathetic,' began Merson in an explosive interview with Sky Sports.
'If I'm a Man United fan, I'd be fuming.
"I think it's pathetic...if I'm a Man United fan, I'll be fuming"
Paul Merson shares his honest opinion on Manchester United's new stadium plans ð¨ pic.twitter.com/A74xeKwkpG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 13, 2025
Manchester United's £2bn plans for a 100,000-seater stadium are 'pathetic,' says Paul Merson
Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes it can become 'the world's greatest stadium' after a five-year build
'They're at Old Trafford, got one of the biggest stadiums in the Premier League.
'I could understand if it's Chelsea, and Chelsea go, "we want to move stadium," because Chelsea get around 38,000 (40,000), so they need a bigger stadium to keep on living with the big boys.
'But when it's Man United and they already hold 70-odd thousand, more than anybody else, why would they need a new stadium?
'You need new players. They need a team. This is what I can't work out.
'I heard Jim Ratcliffe going, "oh, this is going to be a stadium, England will be able to play here."
'Don't worry about England. Don't worry about the national team. Worry about Man United. Worry about getting them into the top six, let alone into the Champions League.
'I just can't believe what I've been seeing over the past couple of days. I'm flabbergasted.'
United's new home will be built next to the existing Old Trafford and will apparently be visible from almost 40 kilometres away in the Peak District.
Manchester United's new £2bn stadium will become the largest covered space in the world
The seismic project has been Ratcliffe's priority since taking over his minority share of the club
United have vowed to 'preserve the essence of Old Trafford' in the new stadium
Ratcliffe believes the project ¿will preserve the essence of Old Trafford¿ while transforming the fan experience only footsteps from our existing home¿
Legendary Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has also thrown his weight behind a decision
The club insists it could boost the UK economy by £7.3bn-a-year, create 92,000 jobs, 17,000 homes and attract an additional 1.8million visitors annually.
This new Old Trafford will sit beneath a vast 'umbrella' – complete with a public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square and their own version of Wembley Way in a breathtaking ‘city of the future’.
A new stadium had been a key part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to become co-owner of the Red Devils and, without divulging details on funding, when work will start, or where United will play while it is under development, he purred over the project.
‘Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford,' he said at the headquarters of architects Foster + Partners, who have been appointed to design the stadium district.
‘Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.
'By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience only footsteps from our historic home.
‘Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment not just during the construction phase but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete.
'The Government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.’`
The Red Devils' own, tree-lined version of Wembley Way (pictured in concept above) would stretch from beyond the current Holy Trinity statue to well inside the existing Old Trafford
The design includes a sweeping glass and steel canopy above that will keep supporters dry
United enlisted a report from experts who say the stadium will bring £7.3bn to the economy
Manchester United will seek to fund the estimated £2bn needed for the stadium themselves, while seeking government support for the wider infrastructure and regeneration project
Foster has also claimed that the stadium is designed to 'acoustically cultivate a huge roar¿
Manchester United announced the news with a video narrated by former captain Gary Neville
At the start of the video, Neville calls the stadium 'a new theatre, for dreams to come alive¿
The stadium's new public plaza is set to be twice the size of Trafalgar Square in London
Sir Alex Ferguson added: 'Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in.
‘Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.’
United chief executive Omar Berrada said: ‘Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium.
‘We are grateful for the feasibility work done by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force exploring options for the future of Old Trafford. We have carefully considered its findings, together with the views of thousands of fans and local residents and concluded that a new stadium is the right way forward for Manchester United and our surrounding community.
‘We will now embark on further consultation to ensure that fans and residents continue to be heard as we move towards final decisions.’