Antonio Valencia says he would “go running” back to Manchester United if the club called, praising Michael Carrick after his appointment and pointing to the passion he still has for Old Trafford.
Antonio Valencia didn’t just watch Manchester United move into a new chapter—he sounded ready to step straight back into it.
The Ecuadorian, a familiar presence at Old Trafford for his decade with the club between 2009 and 2019, said he would drop everything if Manchester United called again. “Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much,” the 40-year-old said.
Valencia also made clear that the admiration isn’t just nostalgia. “My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot. I think everything they are doing is going well.”
The push for a return is tied directly to Michael Carrick, who was formally appointed as United’s manager last month after a successful interim period. During that interim run, Carrick steered the club back into the Champions League and secured a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Valencia said he reached out to Carrick with support from afar: “I sent him a message wishing him success. Carrick is someone I respect and care about a lot. I wished him success as a coach. and I think it has gone well for him.” He added that he’s glad the plan is working. “Things have worked out, and it makes me happy that he is going into another season on the bench.”.
For Valencia, there’s more than professional respect behind the idea of linking up again. The two shared a dressing room at Old Trafford for nine years in Manchester. and Valencia described the desire for a reunion plainly when asked whether he’d consider joining Carrick in the city. “But if they called me, I would go running.”.
Valencia retired in 2021 after almost 500 career appearances. His club career at United. where he amassed silverware across his time. is still measured in the numbers fans remember: he featured 339 times for the club and netted 25 goals. The trophy list during his tenure included two Premier League titles, several domestic cups and a Europa League trophy.
Outside football’s pitch, Valencia is currently working alongside prominent pundits at the World Cup. He has joined Telemundo Deportes. the Spanish-language broadcaster operating under the NBC Sports Group umbrella—taking part in the tournament as part of the channel’s punditry panel. He said he appreciates the role. but even that busy schedule doesn’t change what his mind keeps coming back to.
Carrick’s seat at Old Trafford has a familiar shape for Valencia: the partnership they once shared, the respect he still carries, and the sense that if the call came, he wouldn’t hesitate.
Antonio Valencia Manchester United Michael Carrick Old Trafford World Cup pundit Telemundo Deportes Manchester United manager
Ok but like would he actually play again or just talk? lol
This sounds nice but I’m confused—Carrick is a manager now right? I thought he was just interim. Either way Valencia sounds like he’d be a great coach, not sure what role though.
Idk why everyone’s acting like “if they called I’d come running” means anything. Most guys say that and then nothing happens. Also third place to Champions League… wasn’t that just luck with the schedule? Valencia probably just wants to be close to Old Trafford again.
Honestly I love when former players still care. But I don’t get the part where it says he’s “going into another season on the bench”?? Like Carrick is on the bench? Or Valencia’s talking about sitting there? USA commentators always make it sound weird. Anyway hope he gets a job because United needs all the help it can get.