Antonio Conte Back on Manchester United's Radar Amid Carrick's Struggles
Antonio Conte is back on the Manchester United radar – at least in Italy.
The former Chelsea, Inter and Juventus coach is being pushed hard in the Italian press as a live candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, with reports claiming the six-time league winner has already made up his mind about a potential move if United come calling.
Carrick’s early promise under scrutiny
Carrick’s story was supposed to be different.
He stepped in after Ruben Amorim was sacked and immediately changed the mood around the club, steadying an underperforming side and driving them to a comfortable third-place finish and a return to the Champions League. That turnaround convinced new co-owners INEOS to make the 44-year-old’s appointment permanent, handing him an initial two-year deal after sounding out several alternatives.
For a while, it felt like the right call. Stability. A clear idea. A former player reconnecting the club with its identity.
But a few months on, the questions have started. Performances have dipped, results have stalled and one former United player has already gone public with doubts over whether Carrick would even make it to the January window.
The pressure has arrived quickly.
Conte ‘waiting by the phone’
In Italy, that uncertainty has opened a familiar door.
Reports earlier in the week suggested United’s hierarchy were weighing up an approach for Antonio Conte. Now il Corriere dello Sport has doubled down, insisting the 57-year-old is “waiting by the phone” for United’s call and that the prospect of taking charge at Old Trafford is gathering serious momentum.
Conte has been out of work since leaving Napoli at the end of last season. He wants back in. Not at any cost, though.
According to the Italian outlet, he has already rejected the chance to return as Italy’s national team coach and turned down an offer from Fenerbahce, preferring to hold out for what he sees as the right project.
Old Trafford would clearly fit that description. This is not the first time Conte has been linked with the United job, and his record – a 58.04% win rate over 703 matches – speaks loudly to any club chasing a reset and a ruthless edge.
But United would not have a clear run. Juventus are also said to be considering bringing him back to the Allianz Stadium, a move that would ignite Serie A and complicate any Premier League pursuit.
United’s stance on Carrick
Inside Old Trafford, though, the message is very different.
Despite a flat start to the season and just four points from four Premier League games, club sources insist there are no discussions about sacking Carrick, let alone making a dramatic early U-turn on a manager they only just confirmed in the role.
The context matters. United made sweeping changes to their midfield in the summer and accept that such surgery takes time to settle. The expectation was never that a rebuilt core would click instantly.
Transfer frustrations have also played their part. Fabrizio Romano, speaking after Sunday’s damaging 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Manchester City, underlined the club’s internal position on his YouTube channel.
“Man Utd absolutely remain convinced that the future will be bright under Michael Carrick,” he said, adding that United had wanted one more signing – a left-back – but refused to move for the sake of it when they were not fully convinced by the available options.
The result: no late signing, and a thinner squad than planned. The responsibility, in the club’s eyes, does not rest solely on the coach.
“They maintain total faith and confidence in Michael Carrick,” Romano continued. “They only have four points in four Premier League games, so obviously this is disappointing in terms of results, but Man Utd remain convinced about that.”
Carrick’s own conviction
If there is doubt outside, Carrick is not showing it.
Romano stressed that what Carrick says publicly – that he is confident, that this team is good enough, that results will come – mirrors exactly what he is telling the club behind closed doors. He believes the group will respond, particularly once the schedule settles after the international break.
“Carrick remains absolutely convinced that this team can do very well in the next weeks and months, especially after the break,” Romano said.
So the picture is split.
In Italy, Conte is being painted as a man on standby, waiting for United to blink. In Manchester, the line is firm: no panic, no change, full backing for Carrick.
Only one of those versions can survive if results don’t move quickly.
