Veteran Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has thrown Manchester United fans into a frenzy by dropping a crystal clear indication that he would be more than interested in taking over the reigns of the Old Trafford club this summer.
In an interview with The Independent which was published on Monday, Ancelotti said that “every manager would think of managing Manchester United.”
Ancelotti up for Manchester United managerial role
The 56-year-old is in no hurry to take up a job and is prepared to wait until the summer of 2017 to join a club which has ‘a good project’. Coincidentally, current United boss Louis van Gaal’s contract expires in the summer of 2017, thereby intensifying rumours of the former A.C Milan manager taking over at the Theatre Of Dreams from the Dutchman.
“If I don’t find a club with a good project, I can wait. What will I do? Watching games, fishing, all these things”, Ancelotti said when asked what he’ll do until he finds a new job. “But let us see next summer. I will not take a job in mid-season, but I would like to work again next summer.”
Many at Old Trafford had earmarked Ancelotti to take over the club once David Moyes was sacked. But, the Italian signed for Real Madrid where he won the UEFA Champions League, only to be sacked a year later, while United went for van Gaal.
Ancelotti wants Premier League return and willing to wait two years for United job
The former Chelsea manager says that he doesn’t regret the decision of choosing Madrid over Manchester but admits that managing the Red Devils would definitely be an endearing prospect. “Of course, for every manager, they would all think of managing Manchester United,” Ancelotti says. "I would like to come back in a club with a good project, but, of course, one that is competitive.
"The Premier League is the best in the sense of atmosphere, ambience. It is also competitive, so I would like to come back, especially for the atmosphere."
Given the stuttering performances in the league and the prospect of a group-stage exit in the Champions League lurking, it will be interesting to see if the top brass at United still invest their faith in van Gaal beyond this season, especially given the fact that two top managers in the form of Pep Guardiola and Ancelotti will be available next summer.