Manchester United have unveiled their renovated men’s training building, three years after Cristiano Ronaldo slammed the facilities at Carrington.
This week, Manchester United boasted about their new £50 million redevelopment of the men’s first team building at the Carrington training complex.
It’s part of the world-class facilities Sir Jim Ratcliffe promised when he became co-owner of United and Ineos took control of football operations.
This includes not only training ground facilities but also a new stadium, which is expected to be completed within the next five to six years.
Ratcliffe’s cash injection helped fund the upgrades at Carrington, which sees its first major update since the training ground opened in 2000.
Cristiano Ronaldo infamously described the facilities as out-of-date in his explosive interview with Piers Morgan three years ago, which led to him leaving the club under a grey cloud.
Ronaldo said: “Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate, lovely people. They stopped in time.
“It surprised me a lot. I thought I would see other things, technologies and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see a lot of what I used to see at 21, 22 and 23 years old. It really surprised me.
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“Since Ferguson left, I haven’t seen an evolution at the club. Progress is zero. You have to tear it down and rebuild it.”
Diogo Dalot, Director of Football Jason Wilcox of Manchester United arrives ahead of a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Diogo Dalot will show Cristiano Ronaldo the new facilities
The first team, coaches and members of Ineos attended the unveiling of the men’s new training building.
They were joined by members of the media, who also got to see the new facilities for the first time, including their new press conference room.
Diogo Dalot, who remains friendly with Ronaldo, spoke to the Manchester Evening News and was asked whether he will show the new facilities to his counterpart.
“If he asks me, probably yes,” Dalot smiles. “I’m sure he would love it if he would be able to see it. But overall I think the message was clear that this club deserved even more and, like I said, all credit to Sir Jim and his team.”
Dalot also revealed that the players had some input on the new facilities.
“Obviously, before the construction started, we had a talk,” Dalot says. “So obviously we gave some insights of what we would like to have, especially in terms of performance, space for us to be together, for us to create this culture.
“Also to create a good environment in the team where we can spend some time together also doing everything that is related to recover well and be at the highest level to perform.
“So I think altogether they did a fantastic job.”
Fans thank Ronaldo
Although Dalot was quick to thank Ratcliffe for the improvements at Carrington, some United fans took it upon themselves to thank Ronaldo.
That would suggest Ratcliffe needed encouragement to improve the training ground facilities.
One fan wrote: “Ronaldo said it first.”
Another said: “Thank you Cristiano they’ve done the needful.”
A third wrote: “Thank you Cristiano without you speaking out, we couldn’t have new equipments.”