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 likely to have pleased Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United is on the verge of a new era.

After years of questionable decisions under the Glazers, Ineos’ takeover of soccer operations at Old Trafford appears promising. With the countdown to the new season officially on, there’s newfound optimism in M16.

The club is making strides in the transfer market at breakneck speed, 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 inject fresh blood into its squad this summer, and pursuing the likes of De Ligt and Yoro has lifted fans’ spirits ahead of the new season. But Ineos is not just focusing on on-pitch matters.

After securing 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 hasn’t been shy about his desire to demolish Old Trafford and build a new stadium that would serve not just United fans but the entire north of England.

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

Last month, United announced plans to revamp 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 expressed his excitement to 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 is 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, much-needed transformations are finally happening. Those at Carrington, including United’s first-team players and staff, will benefit directly from the principal site’s modifications.

While new player additions this summer will undoubtedly excite the 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.