Conte at the centre of Manchester United if Carrick quits

Reports in Italy indicate that Antonio Conte, 57, is the favourite to replace Michael Carrick on the Manchester United bench, if the INEOS shareholder decides to change, after the team has collected two wins, two draws and three defeats in all competitions. The coach is free since the end of summer, when he mutually terminated his contract with Napoli a year earlier than planned.

Conte's career in Italy

Conte has been out of a job since July, after ending his contract with Napoli by mutual consent a year before its expiry. During the two seasons with the club, he won the Serie A title and the Italian Super Cup, always keeping the club among the top two places in the league table.

Despite the domestic successes, performances in Europe have been profoundly disappointing, with Napoli failing to get past the group stages in continental competitions. Conte, however, is not unfamiliar with English football: he won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017, adding an FA Cup, five Serie A titles and two editions of the Italian Super Cup.

Antonio Conte tops race to replace Michael Carrick as INEOS acts

Juventus and Milan have been mentioned as possible destinations, but the recent victories of Luciano Spalletti and Ruben Amorim have eased the pressure on Manchester United's hierarchy. With only two wins, two draws and three defeats, the management appears ready to consider a change.

A photo taken in PISA, ITALY – MAY 17 shows Antonio Conte during the match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at the Arena Garibaldi; the caption also notes the date May. Another memory is the scene from Florence, Italy – September 13, where Conte celebrates a goal with Rasmus Hojlund during the match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli.

The European coaching market remains volatile, with Premier League and Serie A clubs quickly seeking solutions after disappointing seasons; the possibility of seeing Conte at the helm of Manchester United highlights the trend of favoring managers with experience both in Italy and England.