STAYING GROUNDED
Man Utd closely watching Real Madrid and Barcelona as Sir Jim Ratcliffe considers scrapping plans for brand new stadium
One figure at the club is a big fan of the work Real Madrid have done to the Bernabeu
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MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly looking closely at how Real Madrid and Barcelona renovated their stadiums as it could prove too expensive to build a new one.
One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's key ambitions is to build a 'Wembley of the North' that would see United's stadium rival the best in Europe.
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But building a new stadium could cost as much as £2billion and without government assistance it will prove difficult to finance such an operation.
That is according to The Times, who report consultants led by Populous and Legends International have tallied up the potential costs after conducting feasibility studies.
Building a new stadium remains an option despite the price, but redeveloping Old Trafford could be as much as £1bn cheaper.
However a 'Wembley of the North' that includes United owned shops, bars and cafes - as Ratcliffe envisions - would generate more revenue in the long-term.
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While it would also avoid the loss of earnings associated with having to leave the current ground while redevelopment work takes place.
Ratcliffe has also been inspired by the work done by Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are currently renovating the Nou Camp at a cost of £1.3bn.
Real Madrid's new-look Bernabeu cost upwards of £1.5bn but now boasts 5,000 extra seats, a retractable roof and a 450-space car park underneath.
The state of the art arena looks spectacular and Ratcliffe wants United to rival it, whether that means building a new stadium or not.
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He said last month: “Manchester United needs to have a stadium that is befitting the club and the brand.
“If you look at what Real Madrid are doing with the Bernabéu and Barcelona with the Nou Camp, the Bernabéu is fabulous. It’s like a cauldron of noise. The Nou Camp is enormous and they are spending a lot of money revamping it.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans for Manchester United's stadium, Old Trafford, could be a new ground for the cost of an old ground refit
“You look at the Premier League, we don’t have anything that compares. And yet the Premier League is several times bigger than the Spanish league in terms of size, scale and importance today.
“That’s where all the money is with TV. The Premier League needs to have some grounds which are the equal of our European competitors.”
Man Utd are LUCKY to be seventh in the table... one particular stat is terrible, say Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
THE frightening thing about Manchester United’s season is that they should really be LOWER than seventh in the Premier League.
Even during their current run of one win in seven league matches, United’s results have been better than their performances.
Erik ten Hag’s team deserved to lose each of their last three drawn games against Brentford, Liverpool and Bournemouth.
On goal difference, United are ninth in the league, while only seven teams have scored fewer than their 47 goals.
And if we give any credence to ‘expected points’, then that stat would have them 15th in the table.
If Ten Hag’s men lose Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final to Championship side Coventry, it should not come as a major surprise.
Click here to read Dave Kidd's column in full.
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