Manchester United are looking to move forward both on and off the pitch, sparking Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire for a new stadium.
This week is a big one for Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim is focusing on the Europa League with United hosting Real Sociedad in the second leg of the last 16 clash.
United drew 1-1 in San Sebastian last week and must now finish the job at Old Trafford in the second leg.
There is big news off the pitch though with United announcing plans for a new stadium on Tuesday.
United will be leaving Old Trafford for a brand new 100,000-seater stadium nearby and United hope to have the stadium built by 2030.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Roy Keane on Manchester United stadium plans
Gary Neville has been impressed with United’s initial plans, believing that United need to have the best stadium around.
Old Trafford has aged a lot in recent years and the time has come for United to enter a new era.
The design may have divided opinion and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s grand plans come just weeks after Ineos announced new redundancies.
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Roy Keane has now offered his view on the plans whilst speaking on Stick to Football.
Keane noted his concerns that United appear to be cutting jobs for working people but now have grand plans to build a new stadium.
The Irishman feels that Ineos and United ‘can look after people a little bit better’, but does think that the new stadium plans look ‘fantastic’.
Keane thinks that the stadium would be a huge boost for the area and for the fans, whilst also noting that United have been left behind by other clubs with new stadiums – something that is ‘hard to stomach’.
“On one hand, they’re getting rid of loads people and then they’re going to spend £2bn [on a new stadium], I still think they can look after people a little bit better,” said Keane.
“When you look at the new stadium, the plans… it would be fantastic, wouldn’t it? For the area, for the supporters.
“You see what Spurs have done, what Real Madrid have done recently, Barcelona is obviously going to be amazing, that must be hard to stomach when you see these other clubs making progress on and off the pitch and United have been left behind but at least there’s a plan there,” he added.
United stadium cost raises questions
The plans look exciting but the big question for many supporters surrounds just how United will be paying for the project.
Ratcliffe has repeatedly highlighted United’s financial concerns yet now wants a state-of-the-art stadium built.
United did not map out payment plans for the new stadium and BBC Sport suggest that Ratcliffe has ‘several options’ on the table.
Loans, private investment and investment from Ratcliffe himself are mentioned whilst chief executive Omar Berrada has big plans.
Berrada pointed towards United being the most profitable club inside the next three years and a combination of that cash plus outside investment will fund the stadium.
“What we’re doing now is try to put ourselves in the best financial position to be able to finance a stadium and other infrastructure projects,” said Berrada.
“Our aim is to be the most profitable club within three years. We think this will put us in the best financial footing to make this investment and to work with private investors who are willing to work with us,” he added.
Achieving that financial target will not be easy for United though and this will require exceptional decision-making and success both on and off the pitch in the coming years.