Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Bobby Vincent

Kylian Mbappe holds key in Man Utd move for Mauricio Pochettino with ex-Tottenham boss in demand

Real Madrid are reportedly set to join Manchester United in the race to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their manager at the end of the season.

The former Tottenham manager, who is now in charge at Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to leave the French club in the summer.

The Red Devils are understood to be interested in the Argentine coach as they look to appoint a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked earlier in the season, with temporary incumbent Ralf Rangnick due to take on a consultancy role at the end of the season.

Spurs tried to lure Pochettino away from the Parc des Princes last summer, but were unsuccessful in their attempts and ended up appointing Nuno Espirito Santo as their manager.

According to the Daily Mail, Real Madrid also attempted to bring Pochettino to the Santiago Bernabeu around the same time, but they too failed to do so.

The report also claims that Los Blancos remain 'huge admirers' of Pochettino, and with doubts over Carlo Ancelotti's future in the Spanish capital, they could rival Man United at the end of the season for the PSG manager's signature.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe could emerge as a key factor if Real Madrid pursue Pochettino to move to the Spanish capital at the end of the season, the report adds.

Mbappe is widely expected to join Real Madrid in the summer when his contract in the French capital is due to expire.

It is said that Pochettino and Mbappe have a 'close relationship' and if Los Blancos do indeed sign the French striker, then they could step up their interest in bringing the PSG boss to the club.

Kylian Mbappe and Mauricio Pochettino are said to have a 'close relationship' at Paris Saint-Germain (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)

What has Pochettino said?

Speculation over Pochettino's future in Paris is nothing new to the ex-Tottenham manager. In fact, it has been rife throughout the majority of his time in charge of the club.

So, when the constant questions over his future do come, he often remains coy and insists he is fully committed to the cause at the Parc des Princes - as he did earlier this month.

Speaking to the press in France, via the Manchester Evening News, Pochettino said this when asked about his future: "We have to be concentrated and focused on what we have now and football will have whatever it wants with us later.

"We are responsible for doing our best and giving 100 per cent for the club we work for. We are 200 per cent focused on PSG and on giving this club the happiness they expect from us."

As it stands, PSG sit comfortably top of the Ligue 1 table - 13 points ahead of second-place Marseille - as Pochettino looks to win his first French league title.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.