MANCHESTER UNITED’S first team are making the most of their £50 million upgrade at their Carrington training base.
However the club’s academy stars in the Under 21s and Under 18s are facing several more months of upheaval.
They will be housed in temporary cabins on the players’ car park at their South Manchester HQ for the foreseeable future.
Prior to work starting on the renovations in summer 2024, the kids teams had their own ground floor dressing room close to the first team.
There was also a treatment room located close to the one used by the senior squad and the two groups would share social areas – including the canteen.
However United sources say a football decision has been taken that their stars of the future are better served by not sharing facilities going forward.
The belief is that the first team set-up is something that young players should aspire to rather than take for granted.
United sources insist the youngsters have not been forgotten about during the facelift of Carrington.
Around £50 million was spent on the men’s facilities – which were unveiled in August – and another £10 million spent on the women’s side over the last three years.
Now United are planning to redevelop their academy facilities and bring them into line with the standard they have for the first team.
The club felt it was not possible to do the work simultaneously as it would have been too disruptive.
United’s chief exec Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are committed to improving their academy and making it the best in the world.
Now that new director Stephen Torpey is in place the plans can be accelerated.
Club sources say for the next few months the academy players will use the modular buildings which were used by the women’s squad last season.
The belief at United is they are equipped to be used by an elite team and staff and can be further developed for specific academy needs.
The young players have led an nomadic existence since renovation work began on Carrington.
However it was not affected their results. The Under 21s and Darren Fletcher’s Under 18s are currently sitting on top of their divisions.
The youth teams boast a number of exciting prospects, including Chido Obi, JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey.
Senior team boss Ruben Amorim has already promoted a number of academy stars and given them chances in his squad, including Tyler Fredricson, Harry Amass and Toby Collyer.
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