Manchester United slammed for 'disrespecting' Carrick during drawn-out sacking process

Manchester United took until Thursday morning to officially confirm the sacking of Michael Carrick, despite the decision having been reached on Monday evening — a delay that has drawn sharp criticism over the club’s treatment of a former first-team player and club legend.

Carrick continued to report to United’s Carrington training base on Tuesday and Wednesday while chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox travelled to Monaco to secure final approval from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The club’s board were reportedly frustrated that media reports about Carrick’s fate emerged before he had been formally informed.

Manchester Evening News journalists Steven Railston and Tyrone Marshall argued that Carrick should have been told at the start of the week, with Railston describing the handling as “atrocious” on the Manchester is Red podcast.

“He has been completely disrespected in my book,” Railston said. “Obviously they had it in their minds to sack him by Monday evening. So just do it. Give him a swift resolution, show him some respect and put him out of his misery. The fact that he’s then expected to come into training on Tuesday and Wednesday and obviously again on Thursday to learn of his fate face-to-face is just remarkable. I don’t think any other club would operate in this way.”

Railston acknowledged the club’s preference for delivering the news in person but argued the delay made matters worse. “It is more humiliating to expect him to continue to come into training than to tell him by video call on Monday evening or Sunday evening. It has been handled atrociously.”

Marshall echoed those concerns, suggesting the logistics presented no real obstacle to acting sooner. “They could have told him in person on Tuesday morning. This decision was made on Monday. Berrada and Wilcox decided on Monday,” he said. “Get Ratcliffe on Zoom, get the Glazers on Zoom, hold that meeting, agree it’s the way forward, tell Carrick on Tuesday morning.”

Marshall also noted that the training sessions Carrick oversaw during the international break were of limited competitive value, with most senior players away on international duty and the sessions largely made up of under-21 players.

The drawn-out process has raised broader questions about decision-making structures at Old Trafford, particularly the need for Berrada and Wilcox to travel to Monaco in person rather than securing sign-off remotely while Carrick remained in an uncertain position at the club.