Manchester United have been handed a blow in their hopes of luring Mauricio Pochettino to the club this summer. Pochettino is one of the favourites to be the next permanent boss at Old Trafford. Many of the United squad are reportedly behind the appointment of the former Tottenham manager.
Pochettino has long been linked with the United job, dating back to his time at Spurs.
The Argentine is currently in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, a job he has held since January 2021.
However, there are constant reports that he is keen on leaving the French giants. Pochettino was keen on replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was sacked by United last November.
However, PSG were not prepared to let him leave mid-season and United were not willing to pay the compensation they would have demanded.
Pochettino remains interested in the United job and is a top target alongside Erik ten Hag.
However, Real Madrid could throw a spanner into the works.
That is because Spanish outlet Sport claims Real could ditch current boss Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season.
Ancelotti saw his Real side lose 1-0 to Pochettino’s PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
Sport says Real president Florentino Perez does not view the Italian as a long-term solution for the club.
Real were interested in Pochettino last summer as well as Antonio Conte.
And the Bernabeu club would again be interested in Pochettino if he were to leave PSG this year.
Real want a more modern coach to Ancelotti and Pochettino fits the bill.
It would be a blow to United but potentially a bigger blow to their players.
United are yet to decide on who their next manager will be.
But ESPN claims Pochettino is the first choice of many of the club’s players.
United legend Gary Neville claimed at the weekend that United would be wrong to listen to who the players want as manager.
“They’re obviously going to appoint a new manager in the summer,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“I don’t like reports of players wanting this manager or that manager, stay out of that.
“You’re not in a position to be able to choose who the next manager is. Just get your own jobs right and make sure you’re together and doing your bit right.
“If Mauricio Pochettino is the choice of the board they should appoint him, but they shouldn’t appoint him just because the players think [they should].
“I’d hate to think, for one second, they’re listening to the players in the dressing room.”
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