Charlie Grace

Tue 7 October 2025 10:15, UK Updated Tue 7 October 2025 10:32, UK

The high point of Manchester United’s season so far has been the announcement of the opening of their new first-team training facility.

Wins have come at a premium for Ruben Amorim, who has been heavily criticised this season, with Man United’s 2-0 win over Sunderland giving the Portuguese head coach some respite.

Man United’s 2-1 win over Chelsea was more nervy than it should have been as the visitors were reduced to 10 men early on, while a late Bruno Fernandes penalty was required to squeeze past newly-promoted Burnley at home.

As the curtain was lifted on the new Carrington complex, the mood was buoyant at the club, with the signs of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in the club finally starting to show.

Manchester United’s youth team axed from £50m complex

While it was a high point for the first team, it spelt disaster for the youth setup at Man United, with both the under-21 and under-18 teams being left without a home.

Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic has reported that both teams, who used to be housed alongside the first team, have now been moved to temporary accommodation.

Whitwell wrote: “The under-21s and U18s are set to be housed in temporary cabins in the players’ car park as no plans were made for their inclusion in the revamped complex.

“In the old setup, those two age-group teams had their own ground-floor dressing room, close to the first team’s.

“Those designing the new main building decided to cut that association, the aim being to make the first-team facilities an area players must aspire to enter.”

Manchester United academy continue success despite training ground upheaval

Despite the upheaval at their Carrington base, United’s academy have managed to maintain their successful performance levels on the pitch.

Whitwell added: “The situation has not hampered their results, with the U21s, led by Travis Binnion, and U18s, coached by Darren Fletcher, sitting at the top of their divisions, having won 11 of their 12 combined league games so far.”

After some limbo, the report suggests that the club’s academy set-up will now move into the temporary structure that housed the women’s team last season, giving United’s bright stars a slight feeling of belonging.

Under Amorim, the pathway from the academy to the first team has looked bleak, and as new developments come to light, one of Man United’s proudest foundations appears to be in a sorry state.