According to a report by Metro on Monday, October 26, 2026, former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has warned the club against appointing Antonio Conte as a replacement for Michael Carrick, predicting that the Italian could trigger another period of instability at Old Trafford.

Conte has emerged as one of the names linked with the Manchester United job amid growing uncertainty over Carrick’s future following the club’s disappointing run of results.

United suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, extending their winless run to eight matches and increasing the pressure on Carrick.

Reports indicate that the club’s hierarchy was expected to hold crisis talks to discuss the manager’s future and consider potential replacements. However, no final decision had been confirmed at the time of the report.

Carrick was appointed on a full-time basis five months ago after guiding United to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification last season. His impressive start initially raised hopes that he could restore consistency to the team, but the recent decline has placed his position under serious scrutiny.

Meulensteen, who worked under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, believes appointing Conte would not necessarily address United’s problems.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the Dutchman made it clear that he would oppose the proposed appointment, suggesting that Conte might deliver a short-term improvement before results and performances deteriorated.

“I’ve seen that name being said and I would not be a supporter of that appointment at all,” Meulensteen said.

He added that Conte could provide a temporary boost but warned that things might come “crashing down really, really quickly” because of the Italian’s management approach.

Conte is an experienced manager who has enjoyed considerable success throughout his career. He guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017 and has also won domestic honours in Italy.

However, his demanding management style and strong opinions on how clubs should operate have frequently attracted attention. Meulensteen believes these characteristics could create further problems at United if the club’s leadership and manager fail to share the same objectives.

The former United coach argued that the club’s difficulties extend beyond the manager, pointing to what he considers a decline in stability, recruitment and the winning culture established during Ferguson’s reign.

Meulensteen also questioned how United’s performances had deteriorated so quickly after Carrick initially enjoyed an encouraging spell in charge.

He recalled the team’s strong start, which reportedly included six victories and one draw in seven matches, and praised the energy, intensity and confidence the players displayed during that period.

The Dutchman believes United must investigate why those positive performances have disappeared rather than assume that changing managers will automatically resolve the situation.

He also criticised the ownership and wider structure at Old Trafford, arguing that repeated managerial changes and inconsistent recruitment have contributed to the club’s struggles.

Meanwhile, Conte has played down speculation surrounding his next managerial appointment. In a statement released last Friday, the Italian insisted that no negotiations with any club had reached an advanced stage.