Manchester United plan to launch a women's team
The English club have made a request to join the Women's Super League
Manchester United have confirmed that they are aiming to launch a women's team, with a request sent to the English Football Association this week.
United have been criticised for not having a women's side in recent years, with rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal among those to have teams in the Women's Super League in England.
If accepted, United's side would enter the second tier of the women's game in England.
A statement on Thursday read: "Manchester United has submitted an application to the Football Association to establish a professional women’s team in the second tier of the Women’s Super League.
"If successful, the move would provide a career pathway for players who graduate from the long-established and highly successful Girls' Regional Talent Club, which has seen some 15 of its graduates playing international football this season alone.
"The squad would be based at the club's historic training centre at The Cliff."
CEO Ed Woodward added: "We are pleased to announce that the club intends to establish its first ever professional women’s team and has submitted an application to enter WSL2.
"The FA has provided excellent support through the process and we believe that launching a team in WSL2 would give many more of our graduates from the Regional Talent Club the chance to establish themselves as first-team players.
"The Manchester United women’s team must be built in the same image and with the same principles as the men's first team and offer academy players a clear route to top-level football within the club."
Barcelona have heavily invested in their women's team in recent seasons, with the likes of England international Toni Duggan and World Player of the Year Lieke Martens.
Barça are in action in the Women's Champions League this week against one of the favourites, French side Lyon, while they're competing for the league title in Spain with Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid, like Manchester United until now, do not have a women's team but have come under increasing pressure to start one.
