Manchester United Target Francisco Conceicao as Key Winger for Carrick
Manchester United’s rebuild under Michael Carrick has already gathered serious pace this summer. Five new faces are in the door, the squad is leaner, sharper, more tailored to his ideas. Yet inside Old Trafford, the feeling is clear: the attack still needs a spark on the flanks.
That search has led them to Turin – and to Francisco Conceicao.
Carrick’s perfect winger?
An Italian report from TuttoJuve claims Carrick has set his sights on the Juventus and Portugal international winger for the summer of 2026, identifying him as a key piece in United’s next phase under INEOS.
United’s work so far has been methodical. Karl Darlow and Kit Margetson have added depth and experience in goal, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have bolstered midfield, while Tynan Thompson has been brought in as one for the future. Behind all of that, there is a clear plan: build a side capable of competing on multiple fronts, including a return to the Champions League under Carrick.
The next steps are already mapped out. United want a third midfield signing and a striker to support Benjamin Sesko. But Carrick’s gaze has also shifted wide, towards a player he views as a specialist in the very moments that decide games.
TuttoJuve reports that United “consider Conceicao to be the perfect fit for their project,” with Carrick particularly taken by his ability to beat defenders, create chances and operate on both flanks. In a league where one-on-one duels often decide tight contests, that profile carries a premium.
Conceicao has built that reputation in Serie A. Predominantly stationed on the right, the 23-year-old has become one of the division’s standout wingers. Across the 2025/26 campaign, he scored four goals and provided five assists in 42 appearances in all competitions for Juventus. Those numbers are solid rather than spectacular, but the appeal lies in his unpredictability, his directness and his capacity to open up packed defences.
For a United side that has sometimes laboured against low blocks, that matters.
Juventus name their price – and their conditions
Wanting him is one thing. Getting him out of Turin is something else entirely.
Conceicao is tied to Juventus until the summer of 2030, a long contract that gives the Italian club full control of the situation. According to TuttoJuve, Juventus intend to keep him and have set a starting point: at least €50 million (£43m, $57.4m) if INEOS and United are serious.
The message from Turin is blunt. As the report puts it, “anyone wishing to acquire Conceicao will have to make a very significant offer.” Juventus value him at around €50m, a figure that would deliver a sizeable capital gain on the investment they made only a year ago and underlines how highly they rate his development.
Inside the club, that valuation is not just a negotiating tactic; it is a statement of belief. TuttoJuve notes that the price “demonstrates how much the club believes in the player’s value and how reluctant they are to listen to lower offers.”
There is another obstacle for United. Conceicao is seen as a core part of Luciano Spalletti’s plans. Despite interest from England, Juventus’ stance is described as “clear”: he has not been placed on any list of potential departures in this transfer window, and he is viewed as a key figure for the coming seasons.
The line from the Bianconeri is stark: only a “truly unmarketable” offer would force them to even consider a sale.
United’s next big swing?
For United and INEOS, that poses a familiar question. How far are they willing to go for a player they see as tailor-made for Carrick’s system?
They have already shown this summer that they are prepared to move decisively when they identify the right profile. Conceicao fits the template: young, already proven at a high level, with room to grow and a skillset that translates well to the Premier League.
But Juventus are not under pressure to sell, the contract runs to 2030, and the price will not be friendly. If Carrick really wants the Portuguese winger as the face of his wide rebuild, United may have to decide whether Conceicao is the moment they push all their chips into the middle of the table.
