Ineos have made their first major transfer move with £50m Manchester United decision

Training grounds matter to players. At Manchester United there might be a significant focus on the future of Old Trafford, but for the current squad and potential signings, the £50m investment in Carrington will be of greater value.

Even with Old Trafford requiring modernisation, there remains an attraction to play there. When the players walk out at 3pm on a Saturday they don't see the outdated facilities and the fading paintwork, but a stadium with a story to tell, one of the most famous venues in the game.

When they turn up at training, however, they do notice that things aren't quite right. It didn't take Cristiano Ronaldo long to point that out when he returned to the club for his second spell.

This is where they spend the vast majority of their working week. It is where they train, where they eat and where they prepare. Players will notice if it's not being kept up to a high standard and new signings will notice if it isn't as impressive as other training grounds.

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When you're trying to convince a player to sign for your club this stuff matters. A comfortable, spacious, state-of-the-art workplace is an attractive asset to show off and it really can make a difference. When a player is spending so much time there they want it to be amongst the very best, especially at a club that aspires to be the very best.

That hasn't been the case for a long time at Carrington. Much like Old Trafford, a lack of care and attention has allowed it to be overtaken by clubs who have either spruced up their existing training grounds or moved to new locations.