‘No chance’ – Wayne Rooney names manager who won’t replace Ruben Amorim at Man Utd

Wayne Rooney says he finds it impossible to envision a world in which Xabi Alonso replaces Ruben Amorim as Manchester United’s next permanent manager.

Michael Carrick has been installed as United’s interim head coach until the end of the season after Amorim was removed from his post earlier this month.

Carrick will take charge of his first game at the weekend as the Red Devils host Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

But behind the scenes, work will already be underway to identify a marquee summer appointment to take on the United job permanently ahead of next season.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and current England boss Thomas Tuchel are two of the early favourites to take on the role, with both only under contract until the summer.

Meanwhile, managerial sackings at other clubs have put notable high-profile managers on the market and available for hire.

Enzo Maresca is reportedly admired by senior figures at Old Trafford following his departure from Chelsea, while Alonso has already been linked with several top jobs after his departure from Real Madrid.

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Alonso achieved great success at Bayer Leverkusen, helping the German side win the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history, but Rooney believes the Spaniard will have no interest in a move to United.

‘No chance it’s Alonso, no,’ the former United captain said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

‘Before Liverpool, I would have loved Klopp, but you couldn’t bring him in or Alonso for that reason. I just don’t think you can.

‘Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen but I think you’ve got more chance of him sitting and waiting that Arne Slot leaves.’

Instead, Rooney said he would prefer United to hire Tuchel, saying: ‘Tuchel is the one for me. I just think he knows the Premier League, he’s won trophies, he’s doing well at England. Time will tell.’

Despite only one win in their last six league games, United remain only three points behind fourth-place Liverpool and firmly in contention to secure qualification back into the Champions League.

And while Carrick may be managerially inexperienced in the English top-flight, Rooney thinks his former teammate is the right man for the job at present.

‘I think it is the right choice at this moment in time,’ he said.

‘It is a difficult task of course. Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place and Michael has to go in and steady the ship.

‘Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks.

‘He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.’

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