Omar Berrada has been speaking to the media ahead of Manchester United’s latest clash about the club’s new stadium and how it will be financed.
On Tuesday morning, Manchester United announced their decision to construct a brand-new 100,000-seater stadium rather than refurbish Old Trafford.
After months of deliberation, the club’s ‘Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force’ weighed the pros and cons before concluding that building a new stadium was the best option.
This means Old Trafford will eventually be demolished, with the project set for completion by 2030. Although the Reds will still play at their current home until the new project is ready.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from United supporters, with many strongly opposing the demolition of the historic Theatre of Dreams and the creation of a “soulless” ground.
Berrada opens up on financing United’s new stadium
United are set to face Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, with the winner heading into the next round of the Europa League.
Ahead of that game, the club’s chief executive officer, Omar Berrada, was asked about the club’s new stadium and, in particular, how they will be able to finance the £2 billion project.
“It’s quite early days. We’ve announced our aspirations to build a new stadium. We’re going to keep all options open to see how we can finance it,” Berrada told TNT Sports.
“Our goal is to be able to finance it whilst also being invested in the team right now and helping Groupon be successful in the very short term.”
Further asked whether the stadium would be financed through a bank loan, the United CEO replied: “I can’t really say at this stage.
“Like I said, we’re going to look at all the options, we’re going to work with our fans, we’re going to consult with different parties to see what are the best ways to potentially finance them.”
United stadium will have no government funding
It has almost become a myth that the government will be funding the stadium for United. So many opposing fans are of the belief that this is what Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to do.
The fact is that United want to make the stadium the centre-piece of a regeneration project of the local area – that is what the government would be paying for and not the club’s stadium.
This was made extremely clear by Andy Burnham, major of Greater Manchester, this week.
“It is for Manchester United to fund their new home,” he told reporters.
“There will be no public money, and that will not change in the duration of this project. And I do want that message to be heard loud and clear today.”
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