Ferguson's praise for Conte resurfaces as Italian emerges as Carrick's likely successor at United

Antonio Conte has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United, with reports of dialogue between the club and the Italian’s representatives as pressure mounts on the current manager following a poor start to the season.

The timing is notable given Sir Alex Ferguson’s effusive praise of Conte in 2017, when the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss led the Blues to the Premier League title. Ferguson described Conte as “fantastic”, adding: “You see his energy on the pitch. There’s a true saying that the team mirrors the manager, and that’s what they’ve done with him. His team have stayed top of the league for so long.”

Conte, 57, who left Napoli in the summer, has done little to dampen the speculation. In a recent interview with The Athletic, he spoke of his desire to manage a club that has “lost sight of their history”, saying: “I’d like to go to one of these clubs to dust off that history and make it shine once more. Clubs where there’s pressure, where, ultimately, you know full well that you’re not going there just to take part, but to compete.”

The description fits United closely, and Conte is said to be open to the role should it become available. This is not the first time his name has been attached to Old Trafford — he was also a candidate in 2021 during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troubled spell, though United retained Solskjaer before eventually sacking him. By that point, Conte had already taken charge at Tottenham.

Carrick remains in his post for now, with United facing a trip to Leeds United on Sunday in what is described as the final match of Ruben Amorim’s January tenure. The squad will include Lisandro Martinez, who has held what are described as “positive” talks with Carrick and club officials after his explosive post-match comments following Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez had publicly accused the club of lacking ambition and questioned their summer recruitment, but has since acknowledged his interview “did not help” with keeping the squad united, adding that he is “fully focused on winning together.” The 28-year-old has reportedly been fined, though the club is not expected to make any disciplinary action public. With Martinez in the final year of his contract, his long-term future at the club remains uncertain.