Rio Ferdinand is fully convinced that there is only one factor that would prevent Ineos from making Michael Carrick the next permanent Manchester United manager.
Michael Carrick has become the clear favourite to succeed former Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim on a permanent basis at the Premier League club.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend has been widely credited for his impact during his interim head coach reign at Old Trafford in the 2025-26 campaign.
United have reportedly been locked in talks with Carrick over the vacant head coach role and the Red Devils will offer the former midfielder an initial two-year deal.
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Rio Ferdinand says Luis Enrique’s availability is the only thing that could scupper Michael Carrick’s permanent Man Utd run
The Ineos regime at Old Trafford are now prepared to roll the dice with Michael Carrick as Ruben Amorim’s long-term Manchester United managerial successor.
United had been linked with several different names over the head coach role in recent months, including Andoni Iraola, Luis Enrique and Oliver Glasner.
Speaking after Man Utd’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Rio Ferdinand admitted that Luis Enrique would be the only reason that Ineos would U-turn on Carrick.
“I think Ineos have to back him right now because he’s put Ineos in the corner and said, ‘You can’t get rid of me,’” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“And like I said before, the only way you get rid of Michael Carrick right now after what he’s done is if Luis Enrique leaves PSG and comes to Man United and knocks on the door and says, ‘Guys, I want to manage Man United.’ He’s the only person I do that for right now.
Enrique has been tipped to sign a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain amid the Red Devils’ continued links with the 56-year-old former Barcelona and Spain manager.
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Rio Ferdinand on the major impact of Michael Carrick at Man Utd ahead of Ineos’ key managerial decision
United legend Ferdinand said that interim boss Carrick’s influence has been felt well beyond securing the Red Devils’ return to the Champions League for next season.
“Anyone else, there’s [sic] too many question marks around him,” he added.
“What he’s done is he’s got us into the Champions League is one thing. He’s improved individual performances [and] got players playing to a level that we would assume they would be playing at consistently.
“He’s got fans believing again. And what he’s done as well, which is I think a huge thing, he’s taken players that were on their knees, confidence-wise, to a position now where they’re in the tunnel and they’re looking across and thinking ‘You’re not going to beat us today.’
“And I don’t think that was ever the case for the last year or so, or even longer, two years almost, under Amorim, right?”
The Red Devils will finish the 2025-26 Premier League season in third place after Man Utd’s victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
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