"The Sun" reported that Manchester United's minority shareholder Sir Ratcliffe had previously said that it was not that the Red Devils' youth training was not good, but that the youth training facilities were not good.
Ratcliffe said last month: "Manchester United's youth academy has indeed declined. You need the youth academy to continue to develop talents."
However, Manchester United insiders claim that Ratcliffe was referring to the facilities of the youth academy, not the level of its player team.
The club plans to redevelop its youth academy facilities to bring them in line with the men's and women's first-team buildings that have opened in the past two years.
In 2023, a £10 million women's football building was completed at Manchester United's Carrington training base, and a new £50 million first-team training center also opened in August this year.
Manchester United chose not to renovate the youth academy building, which opened in 2002, because construction would cause too much disruption to the first team stationed in the nearby women's football dormitory.
Manchester United’s first team has had players from its youth academy selected for 4,333 consecutive games on matchday rosters. This record can be traced back to October 1937.
However, in coach Amorim’s lineup, the only senior youth training players are Menu and third goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
In the 2-2 draw against Tottenham earlier this month, due to Menu's absence, 18-year-old Jack Fletcher became the only Manchester United youth training representative on the bench. The son of former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has not yet made his debut. Amorim admitted in August that he didn't want to be the one to break the 88-year-old record.
When Manchester United last won a trophy (2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City), youth training graduates Menu, Ganacho, Rashford and McTominay all started.
Since Ratcliffe became a co-owner of Manchester United in February 2024, the club has sold McTominay and Ganaccio, while Rashford is spending this season on loan at Barcelona, and Barcelona has the option to buy out the 28-year-old player.
The 20-year-old Menu's request to leave the team on loan this summer was rejected. He has not started a Premier League game since May. Obi Martin, Tyler Frederiksen and Harry Armas are the three academy players who have made their debuts under Amorim.