Mauricio Pochettino has agreed verbally to take over as Manchester United manager if the club parts ways with Michael Carrick, but his release from the United States men’s national team remains unresolved amid upcoming fixtures against Haiti.
Pochettino is due to lead USMNT training today while Carrick continues to oversee Manchester United sessions. The Red Devils would need to pay $10 million to the U.S. Soccer Federation to free Pochettino from his contract, along with additional sums to release his backroom staff. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester United has yet to contact U.S. Soccer regarding this, but Pochettino has kept the federation informed about developments.
The timing complicates matters. The USMNT face Haiti twice in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, first in Miami on Saturday and then in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Sky Sports reports that when Pochettino can be released depends heavily on these matches. His departure would come just days after reuniting with Christian Pulisic, who recently returned to the squad after being omitted earlier in the fall camp.
Pochettino had taken bold steps to shape the USMNT, naming Tyler Adams captain during a training camp that notably excluded Pulisic. Now, with Pulisic back, Pochettino may leave the national team shortly after their reunion, raising questions about continuity ahead of crucial international fixtures.
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick is still conducting training sessions at Manchester United, which adds an awkward element to the situation. Reports emphasize that the agreement for Pochettino to join Manchester United hinges on the club officially moving on from Carrick. This is why such managerial arrangements are typically kept private until the incumbent coach is dismissed.
The financial demands to release Pochettino and his staff from their USMNT contracts reflect the weight of the situation. The $10 million buyout figure for Pochettino alone is a significant sum for the club. How soon United can meet these demands and finalize the appointment remains unclear.
This story is evolving quickly, with the futures of Pochettino, the USMNT, and Manchester United closely linked over the coming week. Fans of all three will be watching the Haiti matches closely as they could determine when Pochettino transitions fully into his new role at Old Trafford.
According to Yahoo Sports.
