Manchester United turns to Conte and closes door on Deschamps

Didier Deschamps should not be heading to Old Trafford. While his name had circulated as a serious option to turn around Manchester United, the Manchester club reportedly made contact with Antonio Conte, currently without a club, according to information from TuttoMercatoWeb and Il Mattino.

The Naples newspaper goes further, claiming that the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager is « one step away » from the Red Devils’ bench. Michael Carrick, who has been caretaker for several weeks, could be sacked in the coming hours.

Manchester United’s sporting situation justifies the urgency. The Manchester side occupy only 13th place in the Premier League with just one win in six matches. On Tuesday evening, they made matters worse by losing 2-0 away to Atlético Madrid in the second matchday of the Ligue des Champions, a defeat that further weakens the current staff.

For Deschamps, this outcome closes a door that was never officially opened. Free since his departure from the France national team at the end of the 2026 World Cup, where he handed over to Zinedine Zidane after fourteen years leading the Blues, the 57-year-old coach publicly expressed his desire to return to work, whether at club level or with a national team. He had already turned down approaches from Saudi Arabia during the summer, and his name had briefly been linked with Real Madrid before José Mourinho’s appointment.

Manchester United’s stated preference for Antonio Conte’s profile — experienced, accustomed to turbulent dressing rooms and quick turnarounds — illustrates the direction the club is heading. For Deschamps, the question of his next job remains open.