ERIK TEN HAG FINALLY SECURES MAN UTD INVESTMENT THAT CRISTIANO RONALDO WAS CRYING OUT FOR

Manchester United is set to modernize their Carrington training ground with a £50 million ($64.2 million) investment, a move that would have pleased Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United is on the brink of a new era.

After years of questionable decisions under the Glazers, Ineos’ takeover of soccer operations at Old Trafford seems promising. With the new season approaching, there’s renewed optimism in M16.

The club is rapidly progressing in the transfer market, targeting Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee. United has also had a bid accepted for highly-rated Lille defender Leny Yoro, who was recently linked with Liverpool.

United aims to refresh its squad this summer, and pursuing players like De Ligt and Yoro has boosted fans’ spirits ahead of the new season. But Ineos isn’t just focusing on the pitch.

Having secured a minority stake earlier this year, it was clear that the petrochemicals giant wanted to enhance all aspects of the club, including its facilities. Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe expressed his desire to build a new stadium that would cater not just to United fans but to the entire north of England.

Ineos also noted that United’s Carrington training base needed an upgrade. The training ground has lagged behind competitors, lacking the cutting-edge facilities a club of United’s caliber should offer its players.

Last month, United announced a major revamp of the men’s first team building. The £50 million ($64.2 million) project aims to elevate the club’s facilities to an elite level matching United’s reputation.

United manager Erik ten Hag shared his excitement with the club’s media, saying: “We really have something to look forward to, being constructed [here], and that will be the best training ground in English football, but the most important is now. We live today and they did a great job to make this work and make this facility work to a professional condition, so we can work professionally. Four weeks ago here, it was chaotic, now it’s set up so professionally. We have a compact training ground, we have everything nearby, in good conditions, in good standards.”

Ineos’ commitment to revamping Carrington has been significant for United, especially after the training grounds faced criticism from several quarters, including from former United star Cristiano Ronaldo. Reflecting on his return to the club in August 2021, Ronaldo expressed his surprise in a chat with Piers Morgan in November 2022.

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. Since (Sir Alex) Ferguson left, I haven’t seen an evolution at the club. Progress is zero. You have to tear it down and rebuild it. If they start with me, it’s not a problem.”

With Ineos making its mark, long-needed transformations are finally happening. Those who are based mostly at Carrington, such as United’s first-team players and staff, will benefit directly from modifications to the principal site.

While new player additions in the summer will thrill fans, Ineos’ dedication to upgrading the existing facilities may prove to be the biggest triumph yet. This certainly appears to have sparked enthusiasm in Ten Hag.