Why Antonio Conte is complete write-off for Man Utd after Rene Meulensteen’s damning verdict

Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen is completely against the idea of Antonio Conte replacing Michael Carrick in the Old Trafford dugout.

Antonio Conte has been linked with a move to the Premier League club amid the growing pressure on Michael Carrick’s long-term future at Manchester United.

United are sticking with Carrick for now and the 45-year-old Red Devils legend will take charge of the club for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.

However, Carrick is walking an incredibly tightrope at Old Trafford and the United manager being sacked could pave the crucial opening that Conte needs to return to management.

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Rene Meulensteen does not think Antonio Conte is the right man to ‘build’ Man Utd if Michael Carrick is sacked

Antonio Conte is currently a free agent after the 57-year-old Italian coach left Serie A side Napoli in the summer. The former Juventus and Napoli boss has been one of the many names linked with Manchester United, including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Unai Emery.

Conte has spoken out about his future after it was reported that he was in advanced talks with United over a move to Old Trafford. The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has been tipped as one of the favourites to replace Carrick because of his successful silverware pedigree as a manager.

However, Rene Meulensteen admitted that he would not be keen to see the former Italy manager arrive in the Old Trafford hot seat. When asked by Piers Morgan why he would not want Conte at the Premier League club, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former coaching staff member said that Conte is not the “builder” that Ineos need at United right now.

“Because he’s not a builder,” Meulensteen said on Football Uncensored, before adding: “He’s not a builder. You get an uplift and it comes crashing down very, very, very quickly.

“I disagree with the fact that you [Morgan] say he plays brilliant football. I didn’t see any evidence of that with Tottenham Hotspur when he was there.”

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The former United first-team coach continued: “It all comes down to inside… Yeah, it always comes down to inside information, Piers. And I know people that have played for him, worked for him, and he would squeeze Man United and every person in there like an orange.

“And they wouldn’t be able to keep pace with that. I don’t think that is what United needs at the moment.”

Despite his success as a manager, Conte’s infamous hot-headed approach as a coach has sparked concerns about his appointment at United. The Italian’s reign at Tottenham came crashing down after 16 months in charge, as Man Utd-linked Conte launched a scathing attack on Spurs in an infamous news conference in 2023.