According to Sky Sports, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly planning to invest £245 million in the rebuilding of Manchester United’s infrastructure once his partial takeover of the club is officially approved later this month.
This investment comes as part of a deal with the current owners of United, the Glazers, which would grant Ratcliffe a 25% stake in the club.
The deal is expected to have a total value exceeding £1.25 billion and is set to be formally announced before the end of November.
The English owner has committed to investing £245m into the club. This investment will be allocated over a period, with a significant portion of it expected to be provided to the club by the end of 2023.
This investment is expected to be covered by Sir Jim personally and will not contribute to the club’s current debt.
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Furthermore, as a future co-owner of United, Ratcliffe intends to provide additional financial support for the club.
There is a pressing need for significant improvements in the club’s facilities, highlighted by concerns such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of the Carrington training ground’s gym and Gary Neville’s recent comments about a leaking roof at Old Trafford following the team’s loss to Manchester City.
An injection of £245m is a significant step toward improving the stadium and training facilities, even though it may not transform them into world-class facilities entirely.
In comparison to other clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, who have built new stadiums, and Everton, who are in the process of constructing a new ground, United’s infrastructure has not advanced under the Glazers, and Old Trafford remains reminiscent of a bygone era.
Sir Jim aims to address this issue, and while his partial takeover hasn’t been met with enthusiasm from fans, it could potentially initiate a positive change for the club after years of stagnation.
