Julian Nagelsmann rejection officially confirmed by club

Julian Nagelsmann remains among the managerial candidates being considered by Manchester United, with Michael Carrick’s future hanging by a thread after another disastrous defeat.

The German has attracted interest from Old Trafford following successful spells at Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.

Nagelsmann became the youngest permanent Bundesliga head coach when he took charge of Hoffenheim at 28, before guiding Leipzig to the Champions League semi-finals in 2020.

He subsequently won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2022 and managed Germany at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.

However, his availability has become particularly significant as United’s season continues to unravel.

Carrick has been under mounting pressure for several weeks, with humiliating defeats against Como and Bournemouth leaving his position increasingly vulnerable.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Chelsea extended United’s winless run to nine consecutive matches, leaving them 17th in the Premier League.

Lisandro Martinez conceded a penalty and received a second yellow card, while Carrick’s side struggled to respond to Chelsea’s second-half dominance.

United have now won just two of their opening 13 competitive fixtures, despite spending heavily during the summer transfer window.

The club have already made contact regarding Nagelsmann’s managerial credentials, although Christopher Vivell’s admiration for the German reportedly contrasts with Jason Wilcox’s preference for Eddie Howe.

His appointment has consequently been described as unlikely, despite his impressive reputation.

Julian Nagelsmann rejection officially confirmed

In an official interview published by Bayern Munich, sporting board member Max Eberl confirmed that Nagelsmann rejected an opportunity to return to the German champions in 2024.

Eberl explained that Nagelsmann was among the candidates considered to replace Thomas Tuchel, but decided to remain with the German national team instead.

“Julian Nagelsmann was one – that’s no secret. I had a very good rapport with him, but he opted for the national team,” Eberl confirmed.

Former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick was also considered, but ultimately pursued a different direction.

Bayern eventually appointed Vincent Kompany after extensive discussions convinced Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund.

Although the rejection concerned Bayern rather than United, the newly published comments provide further insight into Nagelsmann’s previous managerial decisions.

He has been available since leaving Germany in July 2026, making his next appointment particularly relevant as Carrick’s future remains uncertain.