Manchester United could demolish Old Trafford after Qatari takeover: report

By Mark White
published

Manchester United stadium Old Trafford could be razed to rubble, should a Qatari takeover happen to the Red Devils

Manchester Untited ground Old Trafford stadium, home of Manchester United Football Club on August 31, 2022 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Manchester United could demolish Old Trafford if a Qatari takeover is successful at the club.

The Red Devils are expecting a bid for the club in the coming days, with owners the Glazer family setting a deadline of mid-February for interest in the 13-time Premier League champions. If successful, Middle Eastern ownerships would be in control of United, Manchester City and Newcastle United – three of the current top four.

There has been talk of handing Erik ten Hag an enormous transfer kitty with which to shape his squad – though the plans for the stadium are perhaps most intriguing. 

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on 20 October, 2022 at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could be about to receive a transfer windfall (Image credit: Manchester United via Getty Images)

The Mail (opens in new tab) states that over £2 billion could be injected to "redevelop Old Trafford, or knock down the iconic venue and build a new state-of-the-art facility."

In the past, former club captain Gary Neville has stated that the stadium is "rusting" (opens in new tab), providing a metaphor for the Glazers' ownership of a club which has stagnated after a decade without a Premier League trophy. 

Neville has also stated that he'd back a plan to knock the ground down (opens in new tab), despite Old Trafford being the biggest stadium in club football in England right now. Corporate seats are set to be removed (opens in new tab) from the Stretford End under the Glazers' watch. 

Tottenham Hotspur's state-of-the-art stadium – one of the newest to have opened in the Premier League – cost close to £1bn to construct. United having a project worth twice as much would most likely deliver the biggest stadium in England. 

Former England football player Gary Neville attends a panel on the future of English football on day two of the Labour Party Conference at the ACC on September 26, 2022 in Liverpool, England The Labour Party hold their annual conference in Liverpool this year. Issues on the agenda are the cost of living crisis, including a call for a reinforced windfall tax, proportional representation and action on the climate crisis.

Gary Neville has stated that United need to update Old Trafford (Image credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Certain parts of Old Trafford are difficult to extend or redevelop, due to a train line behind the ground itself. 

Along with a Qatari-based bid, United are expecting interest from Sir Jim Ratcliffe (opens in new tab), owner of Ligue 1 side Nice and UFC star Conor McGregor (opens in new tab) – both of whom claim to be long-standing United supporters. 

More Manchester United stories

Formal bids are set to be submitted to buy United. The club had a quiet January window but brought in Marcel Sabitzer on deadline day after Christian Eriksen picked up a long-term injury.

Former United chairman Martin Edwards, meanwhile, has spoken to FFT about how the club's 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup victory helped changed the perception of English football across the continent.

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Mark White
Mark White
Staff Writer

Mark White has been a staff writer on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, writing pieces for both online and the magazine. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals for FFT and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He once saw Tyrone Mings at a petrol station in Bournemouth but felt far too short to ask for a photo.