The Argentine is set to be announced as Chelsea’s new manager (Picture: Getty)
Incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen to return to Tottenham but was never contacted by the club, according to Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles.
The north London club sacked Antonio Conte two months ago and are still hunting for a new permanent manager, having recently seen top candidate Arne Slot snub interest and extend his Feyenoord contract instead.
Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou is the new frontrunner, while former Spain boss Luis Enrique, ex-Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi are among the many names also being considered.
But one name which hasn’t featured at all is that of Pochettino, who guided the club to their highest-ever Premier League points tally as well as the Champions League final in 2019.
Instead, the Argentine will take over at Tottenham’s London rivals Chelsea, with Pochettino finally putting pen to paper on a contract this weekend.
He is set to be officially unveiled at the start of next week after signing a three-year deal, much to the chagrin of Tottenham fans – many of whom had hoped he would return to N17.
But now Spurs great Ardiles, who is close friends with Pochettino, has revealed that Tottenham’s hierarchy never even reached out to the former PSG boss – who would have welcomed a return to his old club.
Ardiles is great friends with Pochettino and they speak often (Picture: Getty)
Asked why Pochettino is joining Chelsea and not returning to Spurs during a fan event on Saturday night before the club’s final Premier League match of the season, Ardiles replied: ‘Pochettino was waiting for the phone call and he never received it.’
Ardiles, who won back-to-back FA Cups with Spurs, speaks to Pochettino regularly and was recently seen enjoying a barbeque with both the 51-year-old and fellow Argentine Spurs legend Ricky Villa – who was also at Saturday’s fan Q&A.
Although Pochettino was axed in rather unceremonious fashion a little under four years ago, he was still thought to be on good terms with chairman Daniel Levy.
But it appears Spurs had enough reservations regarding a potential reunion to not even hold talks with the Argentine, even though he has been out of work and would have cost nothing to hire.
Feyenoord’s demands over Slot, meanwhile, are believed to have played a big part in a potential deal collapsing, with the Eredivisie champions wanting in excess of £15million to let the Dutchman – and his backroom staff – leave.
Any move for Postecoglou will have to wait until after Celtic have played in the Scottish Cup final against Inverness next Saturday, with the Australian coach unwilling to discuss a move until the season is over, while Tottenham are also hoping to appoint a director of football before confirming their new head coach.
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The Argentine is set to be announced as Chelsea’s new manager in the coming days.
