'World class' Man Utd training facility unveiled at Carrington as part of club rebuild

Manchester United officially opened their redeveloped Carrington training complex following a £50 million overhaul aimed at restoring the facility’s world-class status.

The upgraded base was unveiled on Friday, just days before the club kicks off their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on August 17.

And a plaque was unveiled at the training ground for the legendary Kath Phipps who was at the club for 54 years, reported ManUtd.com.

The redevelopment, announced in June 2024, was completed while the men’s first team toured the United States this summer. London-based architects Foster + Partners, who are also behind United’s ambitious £2 billion proposal for a new 100,000-seat Old Trafford, led the project. Funding came in part from the $300 million investment made last year by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The work focused on the men’s first team building, with major improvements to the gym, medical, nutrition and recovery areas. It follows the £10 million upgrade to the women’s and academy facilities completed last summer.

Head coach Ruben Amorim and his squad returned to Carrington on Wednesday to see the changes for the first time.

“Following a review of the facility last year, we made a quick decision to invest significantly in creating a world-class performance environment,” Ratcliffe said.

“We are delighted with the outcome and are confident the new facility will play an important role in building a winning culture at the club.”

When Carrington first opened in 2000, Sir Alex Ferguson hailed it as “the best thing that ever happened to the club” and one of his proudest achievements.

However, by last year, Ratcliffe admitted its standards had “fallen below some of our peers.” The overhaul marks a significant step in the INEOS-led effort to modernise United’s infrastructure.

The investment comes alongside major spending on the pitch. United have secured striker Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million and winger Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for £65 million, with further add-ons. RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško has also arrived for €76.5 million plus €8.5 million in bonuses.

Ratcliffe’s first year in charge has seen both heavy investment and tough cost-cutting, including hundreds of staff redundancies. “The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things,” he said last year.

United now hope their revitalised training ground can provide the foundation for renewed success on the pitch.