The fall of Manchester United: academy in the car park, mice at Old Trafford

Manchester United’s 67 milion euros overhaul of the main building at Carrington has transformed first-team facilities, creating open, flowing spaces, upgraded technology, and even a barber shop. The first-team environment is now designed to be modern, aspirational, and fully equipped for elite players.

For the academy squads, however, the picture is far less rosy. Conditions for the U21s and U18s have deteriorated since work began in summer 2024. These teams are now housed in temporary cabins in the players’ car park, as no provision was made for them in the revamped complex.

Previously, both age groups enjoyed ground-floor dressing rooms near the first team, had access to treatment rooms adjacent to senior medics, and shared social areas including the canteen. Academy staff even had offices upstairs, close to the first team, which helped facilitate discussions with management.

The redesign intentionally separated the academy squads from the first team, reflecting the club’s aim of making Carrington an aspirational space for senior players. Instead, two small dressing rooms were allocated for young players who are occasionally training with Ruben Amorim’s squad.

These rooms accommodate ten players at a time — recently including Shea Lacey, Jim Thwaites, Tyler Fletcher, Jayden Ngwashi, and Daniel Armer. When training with the first team, they share meals and facilities.

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The decision to move the U21s and U18s coincided with the introduction of open-plan offices for non-football staff transferred from Old Trafford under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s directives. Since the start of last season, the academy squads have led a nomadic existence, bouncing between the older academy building and temporary accommodations.

This building, designed for younger players up to U16, has smaller dressing rooms and lower benches. Older academy players now have to carry their belongings home each day because lockers are in constant rotation among different age groups.

Critics say Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting agenda, aimed at making United profitable, has contributed to the issues. Reports indicate maintenance shortcomings at the academy, including unclean toilets, overflowing bins, worn pitch perimeters, fading exterior signage, and machinery left scattered around the site.

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Even routine chores have shifted: all staff who wear club tracksuits — including academy coaches and first-team analysts, but not players or Amorim’s coaching team — must now wash their own kit. Staff shortages also reportedly caused an embarrassing moment when United’s U13s faced Everton last month, leaving the team short of socks and shorts and forcing them to borrow Everton kits.

Off the pitch, United’s troubles at Old Trafford continued to make headlines. A traveling Sunderland fan recently posted on social media claiming to have witnessed someone catch a live mouse during the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory over the newly promoted side.

The post included a photo of the rodent in a tall plastic cup and read: "How dirty is Old Trafford?? Woman behind has just caught a mouse in the away end at Old Trafford... I’m running out of things I’ve not seen at the match now."

Fans were quick to react, with one tweeting: "No way. Even mother nature is taking the p***" SunSport reached out to Manchester United for comment.

United secured the win thanks to first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko, with new goalkeeper Senne Lammens keeping a clean sheet. Old Trafford has a history of rodent sightings: in February, a mouse was spotted on the pitch during a match against Ipswich, and hygiene inspectors confirmed a mice infestation in December, including droppings found in a concourse food kiosk, reducing the stadium’s hygiene rating from four to just two stars.

Looking ahead, Ruben Amorim’s squad will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool after the international break, aiming to build momentum and claim back-to-back wins for the first time under the Portuguese manager.