Jean-Claude Blanc [front] with Sir Dave Brailsford and Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Manchester United chief Jean-Claude Blanc has suggested the club will prioritise Old Trafford’s future rather than recruitment.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 27.7% stake in the club was confirmed in February, with INEOS taking over control of football operations at the club.
While the club’s poor recruitment is clearly an issue, there is no guarantee that INEOS will sanction similar levels of spending as has been seen in the last ten years.
Instead, they will look to spend wisely as they seek to clear up the mess at the club.
One of the main issues at the club is Old Trafford. Ratcliffe’s preference is to build a new £2bn stadium on the land around the current site but it has not been ruled out that INEOS will refurbish the current stadium to the tune of around £1bn.
And Blanc, who now sits on United’s board and advises Ratcliffe, says Old Trafford is the priority.
United are prioritising the future of Old Trafford (Credits: Getty Images)
‘The key is the quality of experience for the fans,’ said Blanc.
‘We must have the courage to invest in infrastructure rather than in players. This creates additional income which allows reinvestment in talent.
‘I started my career following the construction of a temporary stadium for the opening of the Albertville Games. At Juventus, there was the design and construction of a 41,500-seat stadium.
‘At PSG, we have worked a lot to effectively renovate the Parc des Princes. At Manchester United we are watching.
‘Old Trafford has been at the forefront for years but is catching up. Modernisation or a new Old Trafford? All options are on the table. We see that things are moving a lot
‘Tottenham have a new stadium. Real Madrid are finishing theirs. Barcelona is working on it. Paris might have one one day.’
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