Manchester United is in the market for a new long-term manager after the departure of Rúben Amorim, who was sacked after relations with the Portuguese manager wavered.

Michael Carrick has taken over as interim manager and has improved the club's situation since his arrival in January, leading United to third place and well in contention for Champions League qualification.

A twelve-game unbeaten league run rocketed United into the top four, which came after a disappointing draw to Aston Villa in late December.

Form has slightly dipped in the last few games, and losses to Leeds and Newcastle have reignited rumours of potential long-term managerial candidates, including a certain international manager who reportedly has favoured a move to another European giant.

Julian Nagelsmann was one of the desired candidates for the long-term managerial position at United, after building a reputation at  RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.

Despite never managing outside of Germany, Nagelsmann holds the status as one of Europe's top young managers after his quick success at various clubs.

Nagelsmann currently manages the German international team, working with previous players like Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich, and will certainly be unavailable for negotiations until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite interest from the Reds, Foot Mercato has reported that the 38-year-old has applied for the Real Madrid managerial position, after they sacked Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid are in a very similar position to United, recording one of their worst seasons in recent history, sacking a manager mid-season, and hiring a familiar interim manager to guide the team for the remainder.

This has dealt a huge blow to United, as they were reportedly set to open talks with Nagelsmann, but this may prove futile given his reported interest elsewhere.

Despite rumours of United being in the market for a sustainable long-term manager, Carrick is making a case for himself as the perfect candidate for that role.

There's no hiding that the club's situation has drastically improved. After United's worst Premier League season in the club's history in the previous campaign, fans will admit it is refreshing to have a manager with exceptional man-management capabilities and capable of maintaining a good team morale.  

There is a case to offer him the permanent role; however, recent reports suggest Andoni Iraola has emerged as a potential surprise candidate for the advertised position, after his impressive feat with Bournemouth since arriving in 2023.

Speculation around Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel remains, as their reputation speaks for itself. Carrick's lack of managerial experience may become his hamartia as United may favour more established personnel.