Antonio Conte Signals Readiness to Take Over at Manchester United
Manchester United face a defining week after Antonio Conte’s representatives made contact to indicate that the former Napoli, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager would be prepared to take over should the club change course.
Conte, 57, has been out of work since leaving Napoli during the summer. He won the Serie A title in his first season in charge before guiding the club to second place in the following campaign, and is understood to want another opportunity in English football.
United have won only two of their first nine matches and have suffered four defeats, placing Michael Carrick under growing pressure despite public backing from the club’s hierarchy. No formal talks with Conte have begun, but the poor run has left little room for further setbacks.
Conte remains interested in Old Trafford role
Conte’s representatives also spoke with United football director Jason Wilcox in the summer. The club instead appointed Carrick, 45, on a permanent basis after he led the side into the Champions League following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January.
The Italian has not abandoned his interest in the job. His previous Premier League record includes a league title and FA Cup during two seasons at Chelsea, where his spell ended in 2018. He later managed Tottenham from 2021 until March 2023, recording a win percentage above 50 per cent and leaving the club fourth in the table.
United’s current situation has also created unease within the dressing room. Players are increasingly aware that a managerial change could follow if the results continue, with the atmosphere contributing to Lisandro Martinez’s outburst on Tuesday. The Argentina defender later issued a statement to explain his comments.
Other candidates being discussed
Club directors are also said to have identified a current Premier League manager as their preferred eventual candidate. Julian Nagelsmann and former Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe have also been mentioned among possible alternatives, with Howe recently rejecting an approach from a Champions League club.
For now, Carrick remains in post and there has been no suggestion of an immediate dismissal. However, those inside the club accept that a major improvement is required quickly.
United travel to Leeds United on Sunday, with the Elland Road meeting offering Carrick’s team an immediate chance to halt the slide. A positive result against their rivals would ease the pressure, but another difficult afternoon would intensify scrutiny as Conte and other experienced candidates remain available.
