“Incredible” manager ready to swat aside interest from PL side in the hopes of landing United job – Telegraph

Manchester United’s loss at Newcastle on Wednesday seems to have opened a whole new can of worms at Old Trafford. When Michael Carrick was winning games, the rumour emanating from the corridors of power at the Theatre of Dreams seemed to hint at the former midfielder earning the top job at the end of the season. And for good reason. When Ruben Amorim was sacked, United were sixth in the Premier League table. In less than two months, the Red Devils have climbed to third. The caretaker head coach deserves plaudits, but despite the wins, recent performances have been far from good, and it seemed like a loss was around the corner. Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a top contender Losing to the 10 men of Newcastle was a huge blow, and how Carrick gets up from the knockout punch will show where his credentials lie among the other top contenders. As far as INEOS are concerned, they have already started scouring the market for alternatives, with Roberto De Zerbi among the names being eyed. The Italian is currently without a job, having left Olympique Marseille by mutual consent back in February. His attractive brand of football saw the Ligue 1 side finish second in the table last season, thereby claiming a berth in the Champions League. Roberto De Zerbi keen to manage United He was fourth when he departed this season, not a bad record by any stretch of the imagination. He is Premier League proven as well. During his time at Brighton, the Seagulls finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League, while De Zerbi earned plaudits from his Premier League peers for his high-intensity style of play. Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a swoop for the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss, but with Spurs battling relegation, the 46-year-old has other plans according to The Telegraph. The “incredible” manager would much prefer to take over from Carrick at United, with INEOS viewing his work across England, Italy (where he managed Sassuolo) and France with tremendous respect. Return to the Premier League on the cards “If Tottenham do survive, then Roberto de Zerbi, who left Marseille by mutual consent in February, could be a long-term option. “He has been of interest to Manchester United and is understood to be keen on the Old Trafford job, and already figures prominently on their shortlist as they also decide on who will be their next permanent head coach. “He has made no secret of the fact that he would like to, one day, manage again in the Premier League at a leading club. “De Zerbi’s stock remains high with senior figures at United – and Spurs – admiring his front-foot-style of attacking football and how he wants his teams to dominate the ball.” Whether the fiery character can deal with working under an establishment like INEOS’ brains trust will be interesting to see. It will also be intriguing to see if the players can adapt to his front-foot style, and not throw in the towel like under previous managers. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25