Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada said there was a risk the club’s investment in a new two billion pound ($2.58 billion) stadium could impact spending on the squad and affect competitiveness for the next five years.
United sit 14th in the Premier League after finishing eighth last season and face a critical balancing act between infrastructure upgrades and on-field ambitions.
“That is a risk. Clearly it’s something we want to avoid,” Berrada told reporters on Tuesday at the unveiling of conceptual images of the new stadium.
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“We don’t want to inhibit our ability to invest in the team, for us to continue being competitive while we are building a new stadium.”
Berrada said that the club would make every effort to remain competitive over the period required to build their 100,000-seat stadium that will be the biggest in Britain, next to the existing Old Trafford.
“There are various ways around that; one of the things we are looking at is to shorten the construction timelines so we can have a new stadium within five years, that’s our ambition.”
About the stadium
Manchester United has unveiled plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium, which will be the largest in the UK. The new stadium will be constructed next to the existing Old Trafford site, allowing the club to preserve the essence of their historic home while creating a state-of-the-art facility. The project is part of a broader regeneration effort for the Old Trafford area, which aims to bring significant social and economic benefits to the community.
The new stadium is estimated to cost around £2 billion and will feature an umbrella design that harvests solar energy and rainwater. The construction process is expected to take five years, during which Manchester United will continue to play at Old Trafford. The project is anticipated to create thousands of jobs and new homes, as well as attract millions of visitors annually