Michael Carrick is poised to make a sensational return to Manchester United, with Cristiano Ronaldo's past comments resurfacing and adding weight to the appointment. Carrick is the frontrunner to take over as interim manager, succeeding Darren Fletcher, who himself stepped in after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last week. The club is reportedly eager to have a new manager in place quickly, aiming to provide ample preparation time before Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Carrick, 44, is expected to lead his first training session on Wednesday, with the official announcement anticipated within the next 48 hours. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have been leading the search.

Ronaldo's previous endorsement of Carrick has resurfaced amidst the managerial discussions. In December 2021, following Carrick's brief stint as caretaker manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjær's initial sacking, Ronaldo posted on X (formerly Twitter), praising Carrick's potential. "Michael Carrick was a class act as a player, and he can become a great coach as well," Ronaldo wrote. He further added, "Nothing is impossible for this guy. Personally, I'm proud to have played with him by my side, as well as with him as a manager on our bench".

The circumstances surrounding Carrick's potential appointment involve a reported preference from senior players within the squad. While Solskjær was considered for a return, talks with club executives ultimately did not lead to his appointment. The Mirror reported that the players expressed a lack of confidence in Solskjær's ability to turn things around and voiced their support for Carrick to lead the team for the remainder of the season.

Carrick previously served as interim manager in 2021, overseeing three games after Solskjær's departure. During that period, United secured a Champions League victory against Villarreal, a Premier League win against Arsenal, and a draw against Chelsea. He managed a team that included stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphaël Varane, and Jadon Sancho.

Fletcher's brief tenure as interim manager saw a 2-2 draw against Burnley and an FA Cup defeat to Brighton. Carrick's immediate challenge will be to boost the team's confidence, which Fletcher recently described as fragile. Carrick's prior managerial experience includes a stint with Middlesbrough, which ended in June with his dismissal. His focus will be on guiding Manchester United to a finish within the European qualification spots.