Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp Agree as Man Utd Make Antonio Conte Top Target

· GiveMeSport

Manchester United have made a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season

Manchester United have made Antonio Conte their number one manager target if they decide to make a change in the dugout, according to reports in Italy.

Hopes were high for this season after a stunning run of form in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign saw Man United finish third, just 12 months after they came 15th in the Premier League.

With Champions League football to look forward to and more than £150m spent in the summer transfer window, albeit all on central midfielders, there was optimism that the Red Devils could kick on again and have another successful season.

Things haven't started how they or Michael Carrick would have wanted though after his appointment as permanent manager, with United winning just two of their seven matches so far this term.

The wins were two fixtures they were expected to get three points from too, at home against newly-promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League minnows Sabah, with three defeats coming against Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

In the latter, they lost a 50-year record at home of always avoiding defeat when leading 2-0 at Old Trafford, while they were fortunate to get a point against Fulham last time out in a display which drew widespread criticism.

Carrick as Man United Manager

2025-26

2026-27

Games

17

7

Wins

12

2

Draws

3

2

Losses

2

3

Win percentage

70.59%

28.57%

As the pressure begins to mount on Carrick, Calciomercato in Italy claim that Red Devils chiefs have now identified former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte as their first-choice manager target if they do decide to make a change, with initial talks held over his availability.

The 57-year-old is currently a free agent following his exit from Napoli at the end of last season, and would bring experience of winning multiple league titles, both in Serie A and the Premier League, as well as extensive time managing in the Champions League.

Conte may not be too fondly remembered for his spell at Tottenham Hotspur, but you cannot question his other major spells in charge of Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli.

He won five league titles between his spells with those clubs, and while some may see him as a defensively-minded coach, the goals for records at those clubs suggest otherwise.

Conte has proven that he knows how to play effective football, and it is something that hasn't gone unnoticed by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Liverpool icon Jurgen Klopp in the past.

Speaking about the Italian in 2017, Ferguson said:

> "[He's] fantastic, you see his energy on the pitch.

> "There's a true saying that the team mirrors the manager, and that's what they've done with him.

> "His team have stayed top of the league for so long. They lost to Arsenal and Liverpool early on, but since then they've been up."

Klopp was similar in his effusive praise for Conte in 2017.

> "I love Antonio. What a fantastic guy.

> "But I think even last year there was no doubt about the quality of Chelsea’s players. They had a punch, and then they come back.

> Antonio has outstanding managing skills. He understands the game, so he saw what to do.

> "Antonio’s really passionate and smart, and that’s a good combination, one you don’t have too often."

There have also been more than one comparison between Conte and Sir Alex Ferguson in the past, including from former England star Danny Mills.

> "He deals with the press fantastically.

> He's a bit like Ferguson and Mourinho back in the day, where he never digs his players out.

> "Whatever happens he protects his players and I think the players always appreciate that.

> "And that means they give that little extra two… five per cent [in games]."

Meanwhile, former Red Devil Tevez also made the comparison after playing under Conte at Juventus.

> "A forward needs to be good at movement and Conte is guiding me in these changes. He's already given me 10 pieces of advice which have turned out to be correct.

> I wasn't lying when I said that he looks after the details like Sir Alex Ferguson.

Should Conte end up at United in the coming weeks or months, they may have just finally landed their next Sir Alex.

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