Conte says no advanced talks with Man United as Carrick's future hangs in balance

Oct 23 : Former Chelsea and Napoli coach Antonio Conte said on Friday he was not in advanced negotiations to replace Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, and called reports that he had demanded full control at the club as "unfounded".

Conte, who won the Premier League with Chelsea and also managed Tottenham Hotspur in England, was responding to speculation that he had requested full control while also making financial demands of the struggling Old Trafford club.

United sit 13th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League standings following Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 thrashing by Italian side Como, increasing scrutiny on Carrick.

"My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage," Conte said in a statement.

"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," he added of his time in Naples where he won Serie A in the 2024-25 season.

"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."

CONCRETE OPPORTUNITY

Conte, who last coached Napoli in the 2025-26 season, said that if a concrete opportunity arose, he would enter talks with the club involved and "jointly consider the terms of a potential agreement", taking into account the needs of both parties.

"Until then, any assumptions about my demands and my professional future