Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a potential future without Michael Carrick.

The club have reportedly identified former Napoli and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as a potential candidate should they decide to replace head coach Michael Carrick.

The 57-year-old Italian is currently unemployed following his departure from Napoli at the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, where he secured the 2024/25 Serie A title during his two-year tenure.

The club hierarchy are reportedly eyeing external options following a mediocre start to the 2026/27 season.

Manchester United most recently suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on September 13, failing to capitalise after playing against 10 men for nearly 70 minutes.

The poor start places pressure on Carrick, who recently signed a permanent contract after impressing during an interim stint earlier in 2026.

Despite handing the 45-year-old a new long-term deal in the summer, the Manchester United board are exploring contingency plans if results do not improve.

Conte presents a proven option for the Old Trafford hierarchy, boasting a strong track record of securing major domestic titles.

He won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus between 2011 and 2014, secured the 2020/21 Serie A title with Inter Milan, and added a fifth Italian championship with Napoli in 2024/25.

His Premier League credentials include winning the 2016/17 league title and the 2017/18 FA Cup during a two-year stint at Chelsea between 2016 and 2018.

Despite his undeniable pedigree, reservations remain regarding his abrasive management style and his previous exit from English football.

Conte last managed in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, leaving the club by mutual consent in March 2023 following a volatile 16-month tenure.

His departure occurred shortly after an explosive post-match press conference where he openly criticised his players as “selfish” following a 3-3 draw against Southampton.

The manner of that exit remains a point of consideration for the Manchester United hierarchy as they evaluate whether his demanding approach aligns with their current squad structure.

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, has said no player is untouchable in his squad.

Mourinho was responding to reporters after their last-gasp win over Elche on Tuesday night.

Madrid needed a late goal from Carlos Espi to take all three points from the game.

After the match, Mourinho was specifically asked about Arda Güler, who opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick.

But Güler was taken off in the 68th minute of the match, with Mourinho feeling the midfielder was losing intensity.

“He is not untouchable. In fact, no one has such status,” Mourinho said.

“When I make changes, it is usually because the team is losing control of the game.

“Arda played in the ‘number ten’ position, which requires covering a large part of the pitch. Therefore, he gradually began to lose intensity.”

Argentina have named Lionel Messi in their squad for a friendly against Benin in October in a match which is set to be the forward’s farewell to international football.

Messi announced his retirement from Argentina duty in August in the wake of his country’s defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and after saying he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge.

The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina when they won the 2022 World Cup, said the decision to stop playing for La Albiceleste hurt him “deeply” but that he had “given it my all” and had “nothing left to give”.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who currently plays for Inter Miami, is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances.

“We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina,” said Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia.

River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which has an 85,000 capacity, will host the game against Benin.

Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winners have also been invited to the match, which Tapia said would be an “unforgettable” occasion.

Argentina were ordered to play their next two home matches with 50% capacity, although one match of that sanction was suspended, for breaches of the Fifa disciplinary code during the World Cup.

The punishment related to using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters.

After defeating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final, several Argentina players held up a banner claiming Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory.

As they play friendlies against Bolivia on 30 September in Cordoba and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on 3 October, it should mean the punishment will have been served before the Benin game.

Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes and team-mate Nahuel Molina are not expected to be available as they were given respective 10-game and seven-match suspensions for their part in on-field clashes following their country’s defeat by Spain in the World Cup final.