Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bold vision to transform Old Trafford into the ‘Wembley of the North’.
The Dutchman said the Ineos billionaire’s £2billion vision to rebuild United’s home on the existing site ‘expresses the ambition of this club.’
It emerged this week that Ratcliffe, 71, who has taken a 25 per cent stake in United, has already been in dialogue with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham about then plans.
Ratcliffe’s aim is for a world-leading, iconic venue that rivals Wembley and it’s 90,000 capacity.
Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League visit to Aston Villa on Sunday, Ten Hag said: ‘So if that is his view then I would say it expresses the ambitions of this club, which is good.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to transform Manchester United’s Old Trafford home into the ‘Wembley of the North’ in a complete rebuild of the stadium which could cost upwards of £2billion
Wembley, in north London, has a capacity of 90,000 and holds many major football matches
INEOS billionaire Ratcliffe has committed £237m to infrastructure improvements initially
Ten Hag pictured shaking hands with Ratcliffe, who paid £1.3billion for a 25 per cent stake
‘But it is not my task in this club to deal with stadium questions, with facilities. My job is to manage the team and rebuild the squad.’
More to follow.
