Manchester United has no intention of poaching Ancelotti! Carrick's permanent appointment remains the most likely outcome, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe struggles to find a better alternative.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reveals that Manchester United has not reached out to Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti, placing him outside the club's managerial candidates for the upcoming season. The renowned Italian coach is nearly certain to extend his contract with the Brazilian Football Confederation.

Many fans consider 66-year-old Ancelotti the most suitable coach for Manchester United's current situation. However, he only began coaching Brazil last May, and renewal talks have reached an advanced stage, potentially leading to a long-term contract until 2030. Consequently, similar to recently renewed England national team manager Thomas Tuchel, Ancelotti is no longer a possibility for the Red Devils.

Romano stated: "People often ask me whether Tuchel or Ancelotti could still become Manchester United's manager. I want to clarify that Ancelotti is engaged in deep negotiations with the Brazilian Football Confederation for a new contract, lasting at least until 2028, possibly until 2030—the next World Cup. It's easy to see he is very happy coaching Brazil, and the Brazilian Football Confederation is satisfied with him. Therefore, there has been no contact between Manchester United and Ancelotti, nor with Tuchel. Both are expected to continue managing their respective national teams."

Manchester United lost away to Newcastle United this week, ending Carrick's two unbeaten runs as interim manager. Nevertheless, Carrick remains the top favorite for the permanent manager role next season, with a 62% likelihood of staying. This is partly due to his decent results, potentially securing Champions League qualification, and partly because Sir Jim Ratcliffe's team has found no other suitable candidates.

According to betting odds, the second favorite for United's permanent manager is surprisingly Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, but his chances are only 17%. Other notable names include Thomas Tuchel (7%), Xabi Alonso (5%), and Luis Enrique (5%), all nearly impossible options.

The two main obstacles to Carrick's permanent appointment are his lack of experience and skepticism from United legends. After the loss to Newcastle, Paul Scholes subtly criticized Carrick, suggesting his recent four matches were poor and previous wins or unbeaten runs were luck-driven. Roy Keane and Gary Neville, among other former players, also express little confidence in Carrick managing United.

Another former teammate, Patrice Evra, voiced support for Carrick: "I hope Scholes' social media post was fake, perhaps due to hacking. Honestly, Scholes' remarks aren't surprising. During his playing days, he was the quietest player I encountered, yet now he frequently makes shocking statements in British media. I truly don't understand why Carrick isn't supported—he's our teammate and has performed quite well. But it's not just Scholes with negative comments; Keane and Neville are similar. This irritates me; United aims for top-four, such criticism is meaningless. Yet, this is the reality of TV commentary—you can't stay positive, only speak negatively."

Evra also reminded United legends that most of their own managerial careers were poor. "Most were sacked shortly after starting. I told Neville: 'Commenting on TV is much easier; when you managed Valencia, someone ordered seafood fried rice, but you served fish and chips.' They left after three months; people remember their managerial endings. As players, they are legends, but as managers, they lacked outstanding achievements. Thus, their current criticism could ruin other coaches' careers, which seems excessive."

However, even Evra himself appears somewhat doubtful about Carrick's permanent appointment, suggesting United hire Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique. "Enrique would be an ideal coach for United. I admire him and like his philosophy. The hardships he faced in personal life and overcoming adversity demonstrate his unique character. His performance at PSG, winning the Champions League without stars like Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar, is truly remarkable. Players wanting to play for United must exert great effort, run frequently, and I believe Enrique can instill such discipline."

To differentiate from other legends, Evra still expressed some support for Carrick: "But, I think we shouldn't dismiss Carrick; he has done excellent work and deserves a chance. People want United to have the best coach, yet perhaps what we currently need is someone who understands the club and players best. Enrique is a genius tactician and good with players, but I feel Carrick should also get an opportunity."