Rene Meulensteen says Manchester United "have to move" on from Old Trafford in its current form if they are to compete with the top sides in England and Europe.
The storied ground has been the Red Devils' home for over a century, and although it has been renovated several times it is showing its age in comparison to some of the newer venues in the Premier League.
Meulensteen, who was a youth and reserves coach with United in the early 2000s and also served as a first-team coach under Alex Ferguson from 2007 to 2013, believes it's time for the club to move on from Old Trafford or risk being left even further behind by their competitors.
"It will be hard to say goodbye because there are so many fantastic memories there, but Manchester United have to move with the times," Meulensteen told Gambling Zone.
"There have been a lot of discussions about Old Trafford being outdated and needing to be improved, investments have to be made and I can understand why some people want to stay there.
"However, building a new up-to-date stadium will meet demands for the next 50 years. Memories are with grounds but Arsenal and Manchester City have done okay.
"There is also a new young generation of players coming through who can create new memories, so you need to plan for the future."
A full departure from the current stadium may not be necessary as many clubs have built new venues at or near where their previous grounds once stood, and Meulensteen pointed to a pair of Spanish giants who have invested considerable resources to completely rebuild their own famous homes as potential examples to follow.
"Moving to a new ground will be a catalyst for success for Manchester United, looking at what Real Madrid have done and what Barcelona are doing," he said.
"It’s about moving with the times as a football club and as a world brand, you need that state-of-the-art stadium and they can still bring some of the feel of Old Trafford by having new stands named after Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I think it's an important move for the future of Manchester United."
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