In 2021, while Real Madrid was looking for a new coach after the departure of Zinédine Zidane, a surprising name emerged behind the scenes: that of Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian, then coach of Paris Saint-Germain for only six months, had received an offer from the prestigious White House. However, against all odds, he decided to decline this unique opportunity, a choice that still raises questions today.
A position impossible to refuse… except for Pochettino
At the time, Mauricio Pochettino had barely set down his bags in Paris, taking the reins of PSG in January 2021 after the departure of Thomas Tuchel. In June of the same year, when Real Madrid knocked on his door, the Argentinian chose to remain faithful to his commitments to the Parisian club and its president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. This is what the daily AS reports in today’s edition.
Real Madrid, although considered the pinnacle of the coaching profession, was failed by Pochettino. The reason? He felt that abandoning PSG after only six months would have been a betrayal for the managers and players who counted on him.
Pochettino could have been at the head of Real during this coronation.
A choice with serious consequences
A year later, in 2022, Mauricio Pochettino finally left PSG, after a mixed season marked by elimination in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Ironically, Real went to the end and won the event at the expense of Liverpool. With Carletto at its head.
Since his departure, the Argentine coach’s career seems to have stalled. In 2023, he took charge of Chelsea, but his stint was a failure, with disappointing results in the Premier League. Today, he is at the head of the United States national team, an ambitious project with a view to the 2026 World Cup, but far from the prestige of the big European clubs.
Does he regret turning down Real Madrid?
In retrospect, the decision to turn down Real Madrid in 2021 appears to be a major turning point in Pochettino’s career. While he had the chance to coach a legendary club, he preferred to stay true to his principles. His hasty departure from PSG and his successive failures raise a question: does Pochettino regret having said no to Real Madrid?
