Legendary Manchester United defender Gary Neville will be part of plans to renovate Old Trafford after being brought on board by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
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Neville to advise on Old Trafford rebuildStadium renovation a priority for RatcliffeFormer defender built hotel in areaWHAT HAPPENED?
The former United captain will be part of a committee that will analyse the various options for the future of Old Trafford, according to Ratcliffe has pledged to invest $300 million (£238m) into developing the stadium in addition to buying a 25 percent stake in the club, which was finally completed on Tuesday.
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There are two main options available to the club, renovating the current stadium or building a brand new arena on the land next to it. Ratcliffe is reported to be in favour of constructing a new stadium, which has been described as 'The Wembley of the North'. Old Trafford is the biggest club stadium in Britain, hosting more than 73,000 people at each game, and one of the largest in Europe. But it feels rusty and dated in comparison to new grounds such as the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium or the recently expanded Anfield.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since retiring from football, Neville has combined his work as a pundit for with major property investment. He co-owns Hotel Football, which is next to Old Trafford, and the 92 Academy education institute also in the area, in addition to other developments in Greater Manchester.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
Neville and Ratcliffe must now decide whether to renovate the ground or build a new one. A renovation is estimated to cost around £800m ($1bn), while a brand new stadium could cost anything between £1.2bn and £1.6bn ($1.6bn to $2bn).