Manchester United's new training ground, which cost £50 million to build and is equipped with a dedicated barber, will open next month. By then, Ruben Amorim's team will have concluded their US pre-season tour and officially return.
Over the past year, Amorim and his players have been using the youth academy facilities, as the two-story first-team building at Carrington Training Ground was demolished and renovated. The renovation plan was designed by Foster + Partners.
Notably, the firm is also the contracted designer for New Trafford.
The ground floor of the training ground is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, accessible only to first-team players and backroom staff, aiming to enhance the players' competitive performance.
Upstairs, there will be a leisure area for players to relax, and they can also get haircuts in a purpose-built barbershop, which is equipped with numerous seats and barbering equipment. It is believed to be the first training ground in the UK with a full-time barber.
It remains to be seen whether Manchester United will hire its own barber or allow players to bring their own. In recent years, some hairstylists have gone viral on social media for cutting players' hair in their multi-million-pound mansions.
The inclusion of a barber, a top-class restaurant, and other leisure areas at Carrington Training Ground is intended to encourage players to spend more time here rather than rush home after training.
On the ground floor of the training ground, clear movement routes have been introduced, meaning players can visit the changing rooms, gym, swimming pool, as well as medical and massage areas in the correct order before heading to the pitch for training—a similar design is used at Liverpool's training ground.
Carrington has installed state-of-the-art cryotherapy chambers, and the gym facilities have also been upgraded.
After returning to the club in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo pointed out that the swimming pool at Carrington was the same as the one he used during his first spell at Manchester United from 2003 to 2009. Senior figures considered these criticisms too harsh, but Ineos admitted the pool needed improvement and included it in the renovation works.
Windows have been installed following complaints from staff that the ground-floor corridors were dark and dirty. Some people compared the corridors to hospital corridors.
Another complaint from Ineos focused on the excessive number of offices on the second floor of the building, while the new building features an open-plan design aimed at enhancing collaboration between departments.
