Michael Carrick gets third offer from former Man United player to return to club

Michael Carrick can rely on his ex-Man United team-mates should he ever need their services

Mikael Silvestre admitted he'd return to Manchester United as a director of football to work in tandem with Michael Carrick.

The Frenchman spent nine trophy-laden seasons at Old Trafford, with his last two years at the club spent as a team-mate of the United boss. The former defender called time on his football career in 2014 but decided against venturing into coaching.

The ex-France international instead opted for an executive role and became the director of football at Rennes - the club where he began his professional career. He most recently served in the position at Romanian club CFR Cluj.

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Silvestre isn't the only former United alumnus to offer his services to Carrick with Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia admitting they'd drop their current responsibilities to assist their former team-mate. The Frenchman told Grosvenor Sport: "Would these former players come back to Manchester United to work under Michael Carrick?

"I don’t know because I believe his coaching team is already full. It’s a department that has everyone it needs so I don’t see anybody coming in from the outside to offer something extra.

"I earned my coaching badges but it’s not for me. I’d prefer the Director of Football role which I did at Rennes after I completed my Masters in sports management. I will go and watch United in September and observe training but like all former players I look out for all my clubs, although I look out for United more specifically than others.

"I played for them for nine years, after all." Silvestre's preferred role is currently held by Jason Wilcox, who was promoted to the position months after the departure of Dan Ashworth.

Rooney has yet to make a return to management since his ill-fated stint at Plymouth Argyle in 2024. However, he admitted joining Carrick at United would be the only role that would see him leave his current punditry role.

Speaking in January, the United icon said: "Of course I would. It's a no-brainer. I'm not begging a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing."

In Valencia's case - who spent nine years in the dressing room with Carrick - the former United captain said he'd work in any role because of the passion he maintains for the club.

Currently working for Telemundo Deportes in their coverage of the World Cup, the 40-year-old told Hajper: "Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much.

"My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot. I think everything they are doing is going well. But if they called me, I would go running."

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