New Manchester United manager Mauricio Pochettino has explained his decision to leave the United States national team for the opportunity to take charge of the Premier League giants, admitting that the Old Trafford job was too attractive to turn down.
The Argentine described his departure from the United States setup as “a really tough decision” but insisted that the opportunity to manage Manchester United was too significant to ignore.
The 54-year-old was officially confirmed as United's new head coach on Friday, November 13, after agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year contract that runs until June 2029.
Pochettino is expected to officially begin his new assignment on November 18, following the conclusion of the United States' two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final tie against Haiti.
His appointment came after Manchester United parted ways with Michael Carrick on Thursday following a disappointing sequence of results.
The Red Devils had managed just one victory in their previous 10 league fixtures, leaving them 18th in the standings with eight points, only one point above the relegation zone.
Carrick's final game in charge was Sunday's dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, where United scored twice in stoppage time but were unable to secure all three points.
Speaking at the US Soccer training centre outside Atlanta following confirmation of his Manchester United appointment, Pochettino addressed his decision to leave the American national team.
Sitting alongside US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and chief executive JT Batson, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager explained why he could not reject the opportunity.
According to a statement shared by Manchester United on X, Pochettino said: “There aren’t many opportunities in a career as significant as Manchester United, and when one comes along, it’s difficult to turn down.”
He further acknowledged the difficulty of ending his association with the United States national team, having committed himself to the project.
“It’s a really tough decision, but at the same time, we are excited for that step.”
Pochettino had only signed a four-year contract extension with US Soccer in August, which was expected to keep him in charge of the national team until the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
However, he dismissed suggestions that he had never been committed to fulfilling the agreement, despite his decision to accept the Manchester United offer.
Meanwhile, US Soccer chief executive JT Batson confirmed that Manchester United would pay compensation to secure Pochettino's release from his contract.
Reports indicate that the English club will pay $10 million (£7.44 million) to the American federation, with an additional $2 million expected to cover compensation for members of Pochettino's coaching staff.