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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Man Utd warned Mauricio Pochettino could use struggling club as career stepping stone

Manchester United have been warned that Mauricio Pochettino could use them as a stepping stone to manage Real Madrid.

The current PSG boss saw his stock rise massively during his Tottenham tenure and is currently holding the reins in the French capital.

Whilst things are not going to plan in Paris Pochettino remains a man in demand and is among those linked with the Old Trafford hotseat this summer.

United are set to appoint a permanent manager with the Argentine and Erik ten Hag at Ajax thought to be the favourites.

Pochettino's style of play and work with young players has seen him long identified as a future manager for the Red Devils.

However the 50-year-old has not hidden his ambition to one day take charge at the Bernabeu.

Who should be Man Utd's next manager? Have your say in the comments!

Mauricio Pochettino is currently in charge at PSG (REUTERS)

“I don’t know if I’ll ever coach Madrid but of course it’s my dream," he said previously.

“If it’s not the best, it’s one of the best clubs in the world. I’m no different, everyone has it on their dream list.”

United are in major need of an overhaul despite spending millions on players in recent years. Their flaws are regularly being highlighted and they face a tough task in simply qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Pochettino and PSG could cut ties once the current campaign ends, freeing him up to move to Manchester, but Steve McManaman believes success in England would further his case to return to Spain.

He told Horseracing.net: “I think he would strengthen Manchester United, but anybody would at the moment.

“I don't mean that disrespectfully. They're all over the place. They need to appoint 'a manager' - and I'm not saying it's Pochettino - and give them a little bit of strength and a little bit of stability.

“I feel sorry for [Ralf] Rangnick coming in because with this 'interim appointment' to the end of the season and then him going upstairs.

“There are so many uncertainties that they've weakened his case as a manager. The way it's been handled has been shambolic.

Real Madrid has been touted as a future destination for Mauricio Pochettino (REUTERS)

“If it was Poch, if it was Erik ten Hag, it would strengthen Manchester United's case, the way they are. It's just been a mess, really, and very unbecoming of them.

“I think they'll be better regardless. Pochettino is a great manager. He'd suit Manchester United down to the ground and then he could probably aim for Real Madrid later down the line.”

Los Blancos are currently led by Carlo Ancelotti, who returned for a second spell in the summer.

They sit top of LaLiga but have rarely enjoyed periods where a manager has stayed for a prolonged period.

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