Story by[]Simon Stone - Manchester United reporterFri, January 23, 2026 at 8:32 AM UTC·1 min readMichael Carrick has not given the impression of someone who is overly concerned with giving the media 'lines' when he speaks to them, as predecessor Ruben Amorim used to do. But he is yet to establish what topics he is happy to expand on, and those he is less willing to discuss. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen he speaks ahead of Sunday's trip to Arsenal, it is inevitable he will be asked about Casemiro, who confirmed on Thursday he would be leaving Manchester United at the end of the season. Talk of the Brazilian will lead to queries about who might replace him and we don't know what role Carrick will have in those discussions. Equally, while Kobbie Mainoo's rehabilitation as a Premier League starter is in its very early stages, what input will Carrick have in pushing talks over a new contract for the 20-year-old, which had stalled before Amorim arrived and it became pointless restarting given he wasn't getting picked. Today may give the first indication of whether Carrick's role is purely to run the team or whether he has an input into United's longer term strategy.
