Pochettino's keeps focus amid AC Milan rumours
Mauricio Pochettino did not deny his representatives may have been in contact with AC Milan, but he is fully focused on United States' FIFA World Cup campaign.
Former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea boss Pochettino is leading the US at a home FIFA World Cup.
His tenure so far has been mixed since he took over in September 2024, winning 13 games, drawing twice and losing seven times.
Pochettino is set to take part in his first FIFA World Cup as a head coach. His only experience as a player was in 2002, when he featured in all three of Argentina’s group matches but failed to reach the knockout stages, including conceding the penalty in its 1-0 defeat to England.
However, he has been linked with taking over at Serie A giant Milan, which sacked Massimiliano Allegri in the wake of a disappointing end to its campaign.
Pochettino refuted claims he has held talks with Milan, though he did not deny his representatives may have been in touch.
"My representatives? It may be possible because they need to do their job," he said.
He added: "We always say we finish our contract in July after the [FIFA] World Cup. Of course that we have approaches and of course I met some people, different clubs.
"But that is a conversation because we have friends in football. We have friends everywhere, and my representatives work for me to try to find the best possibility for the future. That is normal.
"If a club came and say, 'Oh Mauricio, we want you, but you need to start tomorrow,' I say, 'Sorry, I commit with the [US] national team'.
US Soccer Federation chief executive JT Batson claimed that Pochettino has been open and honest while in place as United States boss.
"[Pochettino], and the entire team, has been incredibly transparent [through] the entire process," Batson said.
"So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join.
"He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here. He's a big believer in what we're doing at U.S. Soccer. He's a big believer in soccer in America, and he's a big believer in this men's team.
"And so throughout this entire process, when you have top-class talent – whether it's salespeople, whether it's marketing people or whether it's coaches – other organisations want them. And throughout this, Mauricio and team have been incredibly transparent. They've been great partners, and we're of course excited about the summer."
