COME BACK CARLOS

Last updated : 13 April 2004 By editor

CARLOS QUEIROZ could be heading back to Manchester United after being told Lazio boss Roberto Mancini has been lined up to succeed him at Real Madrid.

It's believed the Portuguese coach, who spent a year in Manchester as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two, has been invited back to help continue the development of young players recruited in the past 12 months.

Mancini is being tipped as the man to succeed Queiroz who must now decide whether he wants another front-line managerial job - or a return to be Fergie's right hand man.

The pair have enormous mutual respect and the fact that Ferguson has not replaced Queiroz with a permanent number two is being viewed as a sign for the former South African national boss to make a quick return to Old Trafford.