Manchester United managerial target Antonio Conte has addressed speculation about his future amid ongoing links to the Old Trafford job. The fiery Italian is reportedly on the Red Devils’ wish list as Michael Carrick continues to struggle this season.
The Englishman was a huge hit last campaign, having taken over from Ruben Amorim in a caretaker role and guiding the club to third place in the Premier League table. That earned him the full-time job at the Theatre of Dreams, but Carrick has failed to get his team going this year.
United are 13th in the Premier League table after seven games, with just one win, and have also exited the EFL Cup. They have managed just two wins in 11 games across all competitions, further compounding Carrick’s woes.
INEOS, understandably, are preparing for life after the Englishman and have their eyes on several candidates. One of them is Antonio Conte, who is available to take over immediately after leaving Napoli this summer.
Conte’s record will entice United
Conte began his managerial career at Arezzo before moving to Bari in 2007, where he won the Serie B title in 2009. After stints with Atalanta and Siena, the Italian manager arrived at Juventus in the summer of 2011, a move that would prove to be a defining point for both him and the club.
Conte transformed the Bianconeri into a well-drilled machine, leading them to three consecutive Serie A titles and winning two Supercoppa Italiana trophies. The Italian left Turin in the summer of 2016 to join Chelsea, where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup.
He then returned to Italy with Inter Milan, where he won the league once again, before enduring a difficult spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Conte, however, redeemed himself by taking over at Napoli and guiding them to the Serie A title in 2025, before winning the Supercoppa Italiana last season and then taking a sabbatical.
Recent reports suggest that United are already in talks with the Italian regarding the hot seat at Old Trafford. However, Conte himself has now provided a contrasting update on the matter.
Antonio Conte: Managerial Career Stats
Conte denies recent speculation
Sharing a post on social media, Conte revealed that he is not in talks with any club. He wrote: “Following recent media reports in Italy and abroad, I feel it is appropriate to clarify my position. My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage.”
“Following a wonderful and successful spell in charge of Napoli, I will take the time I need to consider how and when to return to management. It will be a carefully considered decision, one I will make when I believe the conditions are right.”
“I have read reports of financial demands and requests for full control that I have supposedly already made to the clubs mentioned, as well as reservations about what has been described as my ‘strong personality’. These reports are unfounded, as there is currently no concrete basis for such assessments.”
“Should a concrete opportunity arise, that will be the time to hold discussions with the club concerned and jointly consider the terms of a potential agreement, with due regard for both parties’ needs and the qualities and approach that define my work as manager.”
“Until then, any assumptions about my demands and my professional future remain speculation and cannot be treated as fact.”
Final Thoughts
Conte could have been the perfect manager to organise an underperforming squad and get them back firing on all cylinders. However, it now appears that United are not in advanced talks with him just yet.