Mauricio Pochettino is the apparent front-runner to take the permanent manager’s position at Manchester United but there is now rival interest from Real Madrid.
Pochettino remains the favourite for the United job, as revealed earlier this month, with the Old Trafford hierarchy confident of landing their man.
That revelation was later fleshed out by Mirror Football reporting that the Argentine was the preferred candidate among the players in United’s dressing room.
The Argentine is currently the head coach at Paris Saint-Germain but is said to be open to leaving the French capital at the end of the campaign.
Despite being 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, all is not well in the French capital and PSG’s ultras voiced their unhappiness with performances earlier this month.
Have Your Say! Who will be Man Utd boss next season? Tell us what you think here.
Pochettino’s side have crashed out of the Coupe de France this campaign but are 1-0 up against Real Madrid at the halfway point of the Champions League Round of 16 tie.
The Spanish league leaders failed to provide a meaningful attacking threat at any point during that encounter, which was decided by Kylian Mbappe’s stoppage time winner.
Such was the nature of the defeat, Los Blancos club president Florentino Perez was said to be enraged with the outcome and was even now considering replacing boss Carlo Ancelotti in the club hotseat.
The Italian only returned to the club this summer after six years away, having been selected as the successor to Zinedine Zidane and taken from Everton.
Despite guiding his side to top spot in La Liga – six points clear of second-placed Sevilla – Madrid are now considering Ancelotti’s future and they have a prime candidate in mind.
Pochettino, who masterminded PSG’s first leg victory, is said to be strongly admired in the Spanish capital and fresh reports have doubled down on this interest.
Diario Sport claim that Pochettino is keen on a move to the Spanish capital and regrets turning the club down in the summer of 2018, when he instead decided to show loyalty to Tottenham.
Indeed, that report claims that the Argentine has already turned down an approach from United – with it speculated that this is due to Madrid’s renewed interest in his situation.
Pochettino has apparently ruled out the possibility of staying in the French capital next season, except for the unlikely event that he lands the Champions League trophy for the club - although his future would still be in the air in this scenario.
Attention may already be turning to the return leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League tie against PSG on 9 March in the Spanish capital – which may be pivotal for both managers.
The outcome may help influence now only the coach of both sides for next season, but also the long-term vacancy at Old Trafford.
