“Just a few hours after I left Chelsea, he called me and invited me to become Manchester United’s new manager. Later, I received a call from INEOS. I would love to work with him and make him my captain.” Mauricio Pochettino has already identified an ‘exciting’ Manchester United player he is eager to work with, revealing what transpired after he was dismissed by Chelsea’s owners.

Mauricio Pochettino has already highlighted an “exciting” player at Manchester United amid reports linking him with a sensational move to Old Trafford.

Pochettino has been linked with replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United following his surprise departure from Chelsea, where he left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just one season.

The Argentine manager is reportedly on Manchester United’s radar as they consider a potential managerial change ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Before possibly taking charge at Old Trafford, Pochettino has already praised his fellow countryman Alejandro Garnacho as a “talented” player.

Speaking before his former team’s match against Manchester United this season, Pochettino said, “He is an exciting player, young and talented. It’s not surprising to us because we knew about him when he was in Spain before moving to Manchester. It’s good to see a young player being brave and showing the talent that he is showing.”

He added, “He is Argentinian and Spanish. He is the opposite of me because I am Argentinian-Spanish; he is Spanish-Argentinian. It’s exciting because it’s good to have these types of players for the national team, and I’m excited to see him on the pitch.”

Garnacho, 19, made 49 appearances across all competitions this season, including 36 Premier League games. He has become a key player under Ten Hag, scoring nine goals this term. His abilities and attacking prowess have clearly impressed Pochettino, who could potentially be coaching the starlet next season.

Pochettino, 52, previously made his name as a manager at Southampton before enjoying a successful five-season stint at Tottenham. He was linked with the Manchester United job before Ten Hag’s appointment and has since managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.