Is Victor Osimhen the biggest mistake Michael Carrick made at Man United?

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick after a poor start to the 2026–27 season, but their failure to sign Victor Osimhen could be another decision the club comes to regret.

The Red Devils confirmed Carrick’s dismissal on Thursday, November 12, after a run of poor results left them in the Premier League relegation zone.

His departure comes less than six months after he was appointed permanent manager, having impressed during his initial spell as interim boss.

The former United midfielder took charge in January 2026 following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and guided the club to 12 wins in 17 Premier League matches. United finished third and secured Champions League qualification.

Those results earned Carrick a two-year contract in May, but his first full season proved a different story.

We can confirm Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 12, 2026

Why Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick

United’s hierarchy described Michael Carrick’s dismissal as an extremely difficult decision, while praising his contribution to the club as a player and his work during the second half of last season.

However, his results this season left the board with little choice. United have won just one of their opening 10 Premier League matches, drawing five and losing four. Their eight points leave them 18th in the table, inside the relegation zone.

Across 15 matches in all competitions, Michael Carrick recorded three wins, five draws and seven defeats.

A nine-game winless run between August and November put him under increasing pressure. United eventually beat Roma in the Champions League, but defeats to Bournemouth, Chelsea, Como and Atlético Madrid had already exposed their problems. Even a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on November 8 could not save his job.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox subsequently travelled to Monaco to recommend Carrick’s dismissal to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate to replace him, with United working towards an agreement with the United States head coach.

United’s struggles and the Osimhen mistake that hurt Carrick

Michael Carrick’s dismissal followed United’s poor results, but their problems went beyond a lack of goals.

The Red Devils have scored 24 goals and conceded 30 in 15 matches across all competitions. They have also kept just one clean sheet, with their defensive problems costing them valuable points.

However, their failure to sign Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window was another missed opportunity.

United identified the Super Eagles striker as a possible solution to their goalscoring problems but eventually abandoned the pursuit after Galatasaray’s financial demands proved too high.

Osimhen has continued to score in Turkey, registering 10 goals and three assists in 11 appearances across the Süper Lig and Champions League this season. United could have done with that kind of return, particularly in games when their forwards struggled to take their chances.

Former United players Patrice Evra, Louis Saha and Rio Ferdinand had also backed the club’s interest in bringing the Nigerian to Old Trafford.

However, the failed transfer was not entirely Carrick’s responsibility. Wilcox and the club’s hierarchy had control over recruitment, and several players the manager wanted, including Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Lewis Hall and Mateus Fernandes, were not signed.

United also failed to strengthen their defence sufficiently, leaving Carrick with a squad that struggled at both ends of the pitch.

Osimhen would not have fixed all of United’s problems, but a striker of his quality could have turned some of their draws and defeats into victories.

With Carrick gone and the Nigerian continuing to deliver for Galatasaray, United may look back on their decision to walk away from the deal with regret.