Man Utd target Mauricio Pochettino has already ruled himself out of two top jobs
The prospect of Mauricio Pochettino managing Barcelona or Arsenal is zero - according to the former Chelsea boss.
The Argentine shockingly left his role at Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on Tuesday (May 21) after just one year in charge where he guided the Blues to sixth place in the Premier League for a return to European football next season.
Speculation of Pochettino replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United has heated up this week as the 52-year-old looks for his next challenge in football but, according to the man himself, two particular clubs are out of the question.
Having played for Spanish second-division side Espanyol for nine years in two different stints, the former defender has an unwavering badge of loyalty for the club and one he wore proudly when reports linked him with the Barcelona job back in 2017.
With the two clubs being bitter rivals, Pochettino - who was the Tottenham Hotspur manager at the time - ruled out any chance of him becoming the Barcelona boss because of his love for their crosstown enemies while also dismissing any opportunities of taking on the Arsenal job due to his connections with their north London rivals.
"But I am an Espanyol supporter," he said to the Guardian when being asked about the possibility of succeeding Luis Enrique in 2017. "I don’t think I need to speak too much. It’s like if one day [the Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy sacked me – in a few years it would be impossible for me to manage Arsenal.
Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea
"In football I know it is so difficult to keep your values and to be loyal – with your heart and emotion. But for me before being a manager, before being a player, being loyal is more important. I am an Espanyol fan. I love Espanyol. It’s like Tottenham for me now. It will be impossible, one day, to move to Arsenal. It will be impossible."
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