Man Utd fans told they should be 'fuming' with new 100,000-seater stadium plans as £2bn project branded 'PATHETIC' by former Premier League star

United have announced ambitious plans to construct a state-of-the-art 100,000-capacity stadium, aiming to create what they call "the world’s greatest stadium." The project, estimated to cost £2 billion, is expected to take five years to complete. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is leading the charge for the massive infrastructure overhaul, emphasising that the new stadium will be a global icon, visible from up to 40 kilometers away in the Peak District.

In addition to the football venue, the redevelopment will include a public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square and an avenue resembling Wembley Way. The club claims the project could add £7.3 billion to the UK economy annually, create 92,000 jobs, build 17,000 homes, and attract 1.8 million more visitors each year. However, crucial details such as funding sources, a construction timeline, and a temporary home for United during the build remain unclear.

Former Arsenal midfielder, Merson, has not held back in his criticism of Manchester United’s proposed stadium project, calling it "pathetic" and arguing that the club should focus on improving the squad rather than infrastructure.

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Merson said: "You know what, no interest at all. I think it's pathetic. If I'm a Man United fan, I'd be fuming. They're at Old Trafford, which is one of the biggest stadiums in the Premier League.

"I could understand if it's Chelsea, and Chelsea go, 'we want to move stadium' because Chelsea get around 38,000 (40,000), so they need a bigger stadium to keep on living with the big boys. But when it's Man United and they already hold 70-odd thousand, more than anybody else, why would they need a new stadium?"

Merson believes that Manchester United’s current squad issues are far more pressing than a stadium rebuild. With the team struggling for form and sitting outside the Champions League places, he feels investment should go toward building a competitive team rather than a flashy stadium.

"You need new players. They need a team. This is what I can't work out," he added.

"I heard Jim Ratcliffe going, 'oh, this is going to be a stadium, England will be able to play here.' Don't worry about England. Don't worry about the national team. Worry about Man United. Worry about getting them into the top six, let alone into the Champions League. I just can't believe what I've been seeing over the past couple of days. I'm flabbergasted."

Amid the stadium debate, Manchester United have a crucial match ahead in their European campaign. After drawing 1-1 in Spain against Real Sociedad, the Red Devils will be looking to secure a victory in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday. A win at home would see them advance to the quarter-finals, keeping their European ambitions alive.