Recently retired Arsenal legend Kelly Smith believes it no longer makes sense for Manchester United to not have a women’s team, putting pressure on the club on Monday to finally start one.

Football for girls stops at 16 for United, with aspiring players having to forge their career at neighbours City or travel further to Everton or Liverpool.

For the club, the reason in the past has been it is not commercially viable but with the continued growth of the women’s game, players from rival clubs no longer believe that is a good enough excuse and see it as “disappointing” that one of the most iconic clubs in men’s football are behind the times when it comes to the women’s game.