Radical restructuring at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED have spoken to former Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta and had contact with the club’s current sporting director Fabio Paratici, as the Old Trafford hierarchy proceed with plans to remodel their football structure, amid the growing uncertainty over Jose Mourinho’s job.
The feeling now is that the nature of the 3-2 comeback against Newcastle United has bought the Portuguese time, but executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had already long become emboldened by plans to introduce a more modern continental model that didn’t place such prominence and importance on a single manager at the top.
Along those lines, United have been interested in putting in place a full technical staff, as opposed to just a director of football.
Paratici was a figure they were looking at very early for his successful work in the transfer market, only for Marotta to also become a possibility.
The latter has just left Juventus, with a lot of questions about why, especially given he was credited with a huge role in restructuring the Italian champions over the last decade so they are now an example for modern clubs.
Attempting to bring the two as a package would actually appeal to United, with some sources – somewhat ironically – mentioning how it could be similar to how neighbours Manchester City effectively imported the Barcelona technical structure in the last few years.
Italian sources however say that could still be difficult to pull off. Paratici has recently renewed his deal with Juventus, and is minded to stay loyal to a successful project he has played a key part in building.
Out of work, Marotta is a greater possibility, but United would have a lot of competition and United feel they can put together a persuasive package. A three-time Champions League winner in his two-and-a-half years at Real Madrid, Zidane is the favourite to replace Mourinho. The 46-year-old has proved adept at managing egos and would be a popular choice with Old Trafford’s French contingent, though doubts over his true extent of managerial ability remain.
ANTONIO CONTE Current job: N/A Odds: 10/1 Dismissed from Stamford Bridge this summer, Conte has a proven track record of winning trophies and Premier League pedigree. United, however, may be understandably wary about appointing another manager who has recently left Chelsea in acrimonious circumstances.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO Current job: Tottenham Odds: 14/1 Pochettino has never hidden his ambitions to manage at the very highest level and would offer a more attractive style of play than his close friend Mourinho. Snaring him from Tottenham would be difficult but a power play on United’s part.
CARLO ANCELOTTI Current job: Napoli Odds: 20/1 A safe pair of hands, Ancelotti would - much like his former Madrid assistant Zidane - settle the dressing room and cope well with managing its various egos. His recent appointment at Napoli makes any return to the Premier League unlikely.