Man United faces a tough choice about letting Michael Carrick go after his replacement got a big chance overseas.
Manchester United might have to decide soon whether to let Michael Carrick go, as their top choice to replace him could be getting a new job elsewhere. When Carrick’s team arrived at Elland Road to play their rivals Leeds United, many hoped they’d win to keep Carrick’s job, especially after a tough start to the season. But after goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin led to a 1-1 draw, United’s board now faces a hard choice. Meanwhile, Antonio Conte, who is linked as a replacement, is also being connected with another big club.
In their first seven Premier League games, United have won only once, with their last win in any competition being a 4-0 win over Azerbaijani club Sabah back on September 10. Carrick might see the Leeds draw as a fresh start, but it doesn’t change that this is United’s worst start since 1986.
As rumors about Carrick’s future keep spreading, so do talks about Conte, a Premier League veteran and recent Napoli manager who’s currently free. But United aren’t the only ones interested. According to Italian news source TuttoMercatoWeb, Juventus is also interested in bringing Conte back. Juventus fans even chanted his name after their team lost 3-0 to Lazio, putting more pressure on their current manager Luciano Spalletti.
Right now, Juventus sits eighth in Serie A with 11 points from seven games. Conte recently said he wants to “restore the identity of a great club,” and Italian football expert Daniele Fisichella thinks Conte would pick Juventus over United if both clubs offered him the job.
“I think if Manchester United comes knocking, Conte would feel ready to take on the challenge,” Fisichella said on talkSPORT. “But I believe his top choice would still be Juventus. After their recent loss, maybe he’s closer to going back there since it’s where he lives and likes to live.”
However, there’s still hope for United fans. Fisichella also mentioned a reason why Conte might choose United even if he could return to a club where he made over 400 appearances and won five Serie A titles and the 1995/96 Champions League.
He added, “After leaving Spurs a few years ago, his family situation has changed. His family might now be more open to him moving back to England. He likes staying close to family, but now his daughter is grown and at university, so he doesn’t need to stay in Italy as much. He has strong family ties but believes England is where he’s more likely to win the Champions League soon, something he really needs to complete his career. So if Manchester United asks, I think he’d be ready for it. It would be a great short-term fix for a team that’s struggling.”
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