Manchester United Women’s Team to Move into Portable Buildings Amid Men’s Facility Renovations

Manchester United’s women’s team is set to be relocated to portable buildings at the club’s Carrington training complex next season. This move is to accommodate the men’s squad, who will temporarily occupy the women’s building while their facilities undergo a significant revamp, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The decision has reportedly caused disappointment among the women’s first-team players. The women’s team will be moved into these temporary structures despite the club’s recent investment in their facilities. Last summer, Manchester United opened a £10 million ($12.6 million) building shared between the women’s and academy teams. This state-of-the-art facility includes a gym, rehabilitation areas, changing rooms, kit and boot rooms, a restaurant with a live cooking area, analysis and meeting rooms, and a players’ lounge.

According to The Guardian, the portable buildings will house essential areas such as changing rooms, team meeting rooms, office spaces, and communal areas for the women’s players and staff. However, they will continue to use the same pitches and canteen as before.

The Carrington Complex Shuffle

The Carrington training complex is shared by both the men’s and women’s teams of Manchester United. Renovations commenced on Monday for the men’s first-team building, marking the start of a £50 million project expected to span the entire 2024-25 season.

In announcing the £50 million investment, the club stated, “Temporary adaptations will be made to the rest of the Carrington site to ensure players and staff from all our teams can continue to operate successfully next season.”

Mixed Reactions and Future Uncertainty

News of the women’s team being moved to temporary buildings follows comments from INEOS chairman and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He mentioned that detailed plans for the women’s team are still being finalized. “We haven’t got into that level of detail with the women’s team yet,” Ratcliffe told Bloomberg. “We’ve been pretty much focused on how we resolve the first team issues, and that’s been pretty full time for the first six months.”

When asked if the plans for the women’s team would be confirmed, Ratcliffe responded, “Correct.”

Key Departure Looms

Amidst these changes, sources have indicated that Manchester United is on the verge of losing one of their star players, Mary Earps. The England goalkeeper has rejected a contract extension and is reportedly close to securing a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The temporary relocation of Manchester United’s women’s team highlights ongoing challenges in balancing the needs of both men’s and women’s squads during significant infrastructure projects. While the men’s team’s facility upgrades signal a commitment to improving resources, the impact on the women’s team underscores the need for careful planning and communication to ensure all players feel valued and supported.

As the club navigates these changes, the broader implications for team morale and player retention will be closely watched. The move to portable buildings may be a temporary solution, but its effects on the women’s team could have lasting repercussions if not managed with sensitivity and foresight.