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Antonio Conte emerges as favorite to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United
Italian media links the former Napoli and Chelsea boss to Old Trafford as United's poor start to the season piles pressure on their new permanent manager
Manchester United are four games into the 2026/27 Premier League season and have collected just four points.
On September 15, Corriere della Sera reported that Antonio Conte is considered a leading candidate to take the job at Old Trafford, should INEOS decide to part ways with Michael Carrick. Carrick only received a contract extension to June 2029 a few months ago, and the club’s ownership has publicly stated they have no intention of dismissing him.
How we got here
Carrick stepped in as caretaker in January 2026 after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, achieved Champions League qualification, and earned the full-time role on May 22, 2026.
INEOS, the ownership group led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has been emphatic in its backing of Carrick. Their message is unambiguous: he is their man, the process takes time, and early-season turbulence is expected.
Conte’s position and what he is looking for
Antonio Conte is currently unemployed. He departed Napoli at the end of the 2025/26 season after delivering them a Serie A title. His resume includes six league titles across stints at Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan. He won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus, took Chelsea from a mid-table mess to the Premier League title in his first season, and won the league with Inter Milan.
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According to the reporting, Conte is seeking what is described as a significant new project, and any negotiation, the reports indicate, would not be immediate.
His time at Chelsea from 2016 to 2018 produced a title and an FA Cup, and his spell at Tottenham showed he could command elite-level squads in England.
What this means for Carrick and United
The emergence of Conte’s name in Italian media reflects conversations happening somewhere, even if those conversations are not between Manchester United and Conte’s representatives directly. There have been no official moves or statements from Manchester United, Carrick himself, or Conte, suggesting the situation remains speculative as of September 16, 2026.
Carrick has the backing of his employers and a contract that runs until June 2029.