Antonio Conte’s decision to speak out on the Manchester United links should not take away from another candidate that Ineos could pursue as a replacement for Michael Carrick.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Thursday reported that Manchester United had held talks with Antonio Conte about succeeding Michael Carrick in the dugout.
Carrick is under pressure at the Red Devils after Man Utd were thrashed 4-1 by Como in Wednesday’s Champions League clash at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium.
Conte took to his social media page on Friday and addressed the recent speculation that he was in an “advanced stage” of discussions over a return to management.
READ MORE: Why Gary Lineker claims Cesc Fabregas would be ‘mad’ to leave Como to replace Michael Carrick at Man Utd
Antonio Conte is desirable as a potential Man Utd managerial pick, but Ineos cannot be complacent over Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
“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,’” Antonio Conte said in a statement on his Instagram Stories.
“These reports are unfounded. 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 a manager.”
Man Utd-linked Conte has been out of management since the end of the 2025-26 campaign after he left Serie A side Napoli. The 57-year-old Italian coach’s major silverware success has made him desirable, while his combustible nature has made him undesirable as a replacement for Michael Carrick.
Conte is not the only manager linked with United in recent memory, as Unai Emery has been viewed as a viable option for some Red Devils supporters. While Unai Emery had his struggles at Arsenal and was sacked by the Gunners in 2019, the 54-year-old Spaniard has bounced back and has been widely credited for his work at Aston Villa.
Emery has been linked with United before and the former Arsenal boss could leave Villa Park if the right opportunity came along. That is according to Aston Villa captain John McGinn, who thinks that another club could come to try and ‘snatch’ the former Paris Saint-Germain boss away.
“He’s right up there,” John McGinn said, as per FotMob’s TikTok page.
“Obviously, we’re very lucky to have him. He’s made our team compete consistently with the best in the country, so he’s definitely right up there. But he doesn’t listen to that noise.
“He just keeps improving, keeps wanting more, and keeps wanting the best for us as players and for us to not. So, let that continue until someone comes and tries to nab him off us.”
United should keep all options open if Ineos do swing the sword down on Michael Carrick’s managerial reign. Emery’s experience in the Premier League and his work in getting Villa into a well-oiled machine that can challenge for the top four should be desirable for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s regime.
The Red Devils would be kicking themselves if they opted to pursue Conte and then Emery was snapped up by another club. If Ineos does a ‘soft reboot’ of their project at Man Utd with another manager, then Emery is a much safer pick for the Red Devils than the volatile Conte.