Manchester United ‘have an approach for Mauricio Pochettino REJECTED by PSG’

Man United make their move for Mauricio Pochettino but ‘have their initial approach REJECTED by PSG’ with the French gians ‘unwilling to talk’ about losing their manager during the campaign

  • PSG have ‘turned down an approach for Mauricio Pochettino’, according to ESPN
  • Manchester United are looking for a new manager and they like the Argentine
  • The Old Trafford club sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a 4-1 defeat to Watford 
  • The French giants reportedly are ‘unwilling to talk’ about letting Pochettino go 


Manchester United have been handed their first knock back in pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino after Paris Saint-Germain reportedly rejected an approach for their manager. 

Pochettino is United’s top target to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked as manager following a damning 4-1 defeat to Watford over the weekend.  

United expressed in their statement following the sacking that an interim coach would take the team until the end of the 2021-22 season before a permanent successor would take over.

PSG boss Pochettino is believed to be interested in taking the job immediately – despite United holding talks with ex-Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde about being an interim manager – but ESPN report that PSG have dismissed United’s first approach.  

Departing vice chairman Ed Woodward may extend his stay to help with the manager search

Man United have reportedly had an enquiry for Mauricio Pochettino (left) rejected, say ESPN

With PSG in action at Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night, the timing would seem odd, while it also doesn’t tally with United’s commitment to the process of bringing in an interim until the end of the season.

The French giants are said to be unwilling to open any discussions over Pochettino in the hours prior to their huge Champions League match-up against Man City. 

Amid links to a return to Tottenham in the summer Pochettino, 49, signed a contract extension, taking his deal in Paris through to 2023. 

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Pochettino refused to rule out a potential exit mid-season. 

Asked whether he would definitely stay in France for the rest of a contract that runs out in the summer of 2023, he said: ‘Football is about today, not tomorrow.

‘Football is about results. You live in the present, it’s not about living in the future.

‘We are in a business where the rumours are there. I completely understand what is going on.

The Argentine boss has been strongly linked with replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United

The Argentine boss has been strongly linked with replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United 

PSG are pushing to win the Champions League and do not want to part with their manager

PSG are pushing to win the Champions League and do not want to part with their manager 

‘We cannot talk about this because of my respect to my club and my respect to another club. 

‘What another club are doing in that moment is not my business, it is not my problem.’ 

Pochettino spent five and a half years at Tottenham until his sacking in the winter of 2019 and so boasts a wealth of Premier League experience.

He also masterminded a famous run to the Champions League final in 2019, where Tottenham were narrowly beaten by Liverpool. 

With doubts around the feasibility of poaching a manager like Pochettino mid-season and the complexities involved in doing so, United are still working to a plan of installing a temporary boss to take over the reins from caretaker Michael Carrick.  

Ernesto Valverde has held talks with Manchester United football director John Murtough over interim role – with the former Barcelona boss an option if the club can’t prise Pochettino away from PSG 

Ernesto Valverde is on a shortlist of candidates to become Manchester United’s interim manager if they cannot prise Pochettino away from PSG.

Sportsmail revealed that Pochettino is ready to move to Old Trafford immediately as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s replacement.

United are still working to a plan of installing a temporary boss to take over the reins from caretaker Michael Carrick before making a permanent appointment at the end of the season. 

The club have a shortlist of five candidates for the interim job and it emerged on Tuesday evening that former Barcelona coach Valverde is one of the names under consideration.

Manchester United have begun pursuing Ernesto Valverde for their vacant manager's job

Manchester United have begun pursuing Ernesto Valverde for their vacant manager’s job 

Valverde is currently out of work after leaving Barca in January 2020 and the 57-year-old Spaniard has held talks with United’s football director John Murtough.

Valverde has the advantage of having worked at one of the world’s top clubs, but has no Premier League experience despite expressing an interest in coaching in England.

The only time he has worked outside of Spain was two stints at Olympiacos, and he got the Barcelona job after impressing in the second of two spells at Athletic Bilbao. 

It’s believed that Valverde would only be an option for the interim role, and United have other candidates for the summer including Pochettino, Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag.

Zinedine Zidane has also been linked but it’s understood that he is reluctant to move to Old Trafford and is a more likely replacement for Pochettino at PSG.

It remains to be seen if Pochettino’s potential availability could change United’s thinking regarding an interim appointment, but news of the Valverde talks would indicate that they are, at the very least, keeping their options open.

Valverde managed superstar forward Lionel Messi for two-and-a-half seasons at Barcelona

Valverde managed superstar forward Lionel Messi for two-and-a-half seasons at Barcelona