Antonio Conte Linked to Manchester United Job Amid Carrick's Struggles

Manchester United’s early-season stumble has already lit the fuse on the first big managerial story of the campaign: Antonio Conte is back on their radar.

According to Corriere della Sera, the former Chelsea and Juventus boss has been identified as United’s leading candidate should the club decide to move on from Michael Carrick. The report places Conte at the top of a shortlist drawn up by the club’s co-owners, INEOS, as they assess a start that has yielded just four points from four Premier League games.

On paper, the timing feels ruthless. Carrick was only confirmed as permanent manager at the end of last season, rewarded after steering United into the Champions League for the 2026/27 campaign. He had first stepped in as interim in January 2026, stabilising a listing side and convincing the hierarchy he was the man for a longer rebuild.

The new season has not been kind. One win, one draw, two defeats in the league. Performances that flicker but don’t sustain. A fanbase that has seen this film before.

Yet the story is not quite as simple as a trigger-happy ownership group reaching for a proven serial winner.

Conte Waiting, United Watching

Conte is currently out of work after leaving Napoli at the end of last season. At 57, he carries a résumé that still commands immediate attention in any boardroom: three Serie A titles with Juventus in 2012, 2013 and 2014, a Premier League crown with Chelsea in 2016/17, the Scudetto with Inter in 2021 and another Italian championship with Napoli in 2025. Ten major trophies in total.

He has made it clear through his camp that he is waiting for the “right project” before stepping back into club management. The Italian reports, relayed by SportWitness and CalcioMercato, suggest United would be exactly that kind of project for him — a fallen giant, Champions League football secured, and a squad that still looks one or two elite additions short of a complete side.

From the outside, it looks like a classic Conte fit: a demanding coach, a restless club, a squad that could be whipped into shape by his intensity and structure.

But inside Old Trafford, the message is different.

INEOS Back Carrick – For Now

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water on the idea of an imminent change. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he underlined INEOS’ stance: there are no current plans to sack Carrick.

“Man Utd absolutely remain convinced that the future will be bright under Michael Carrick,” Romano said, stressing that the ownership still believes in the direction of travel, even if the results have stuttered.

He also pointed to the summer window, where United pushed to bring in a left-back but walked away when they could not secure a target they truly believed in. The club, Romano explained, did not want to sign a player just to tick a box. That restraint has left Carrick short in a key position, but it has not shaken the board’s faith in him.

The numbers are stark: four points from four league games is not a return that satisfies anyone at United. Yet the internal conviction, Romano insists, remains strong. Carrick, for his part, is said to be echoing in private what he has been saying in public – that this team will come good over the coming weeks and months, particularly after the international break.

Tension Beneath the Calm

United did win their opening Champions League fixture last week, a result that briefly eased the pressure and hinted at a side still capable of rising to big European nights. That victory, though, has not stopped the Italian media from linking Conte with the job.

This is where the tension lies. On one side, an ownership group preaching patience, talking about process and backing their man. On the other, a world-class coach on the market, proven in England and Italy, and a club that knows from painful experience how quickly a season can unravel if early problems harden into habit.

For now, INEOS are holding their nerve. Conte waits. Carrick works. The league table, as ever at Manchester United, will decide how long that balance holds.