Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Manchester United are interested in his services, with the Red Devils weighing up their options for the manager role at Old Trafford as Michael Carrick heads towards the exit.
Sitting in the relegation zone with just one win in the first 10 games of the Premier League season, Man Utd chiefs are set to part ways with beleaguered boss Carrick, despite stirring comebacks against Roma and Aston Villa last week, though a decision may now be delayed until Thursday.
Pochettino's Long-Standing Interest
Man Utd's interest in the Argentine head coach dates back to 2016, with Pochettino even meeting Sir Alex Ferguson for dinner while in charge at Spurs. In May of this year, Pochettino revealed the Red Devils' interest was more than just rumours.
He told FourFourTwo: "United have always shown interest. But the ideal scenario to manage there has never quite materialised."
Pochettino went on to state that meeting Sir Alex Ferguson was not a job interview, but instead a younger manager picking the brains of one of the most successful coaches in football history.
Past Interviews and Near Misses
Pochettino interviewed for the manager role at Old Trafford in 2018, losing out to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Speculation linked Pochettino to the Man United job again in 2022, with the Argentine then in charge of French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
He explained: "I was under contract at PSG. After our Champions League elimination against Real Madrid, we had no option but to make sure we secured the Ligue 1 title at least. United were in a hurry to announce their new manager before the end of that season because the situation had become unsustainable. I couldn't negotiate, whereas Ajax gave Ten Hag the flexibility to do so."
Potential Stumbling Block
Contracts and commitments may once again prevent Pochettino from taking the Manchester United job. After leading the USA in their home World Cup, Pochettino signed a new contract in August, presenting a potential stumbling block when it comes to compensation.
