Mauricio Pochettino: USA boss holds initial talks with AC Milan

Mauricio Pochettino has held initial talks with AC Milan to become their next manager following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri.

The 54-year-old Argentine is currently preparing for the World Cup with the United States, but his contract expired after the tournament and interest from Serie A teams.

Pochettino’s immediate focus is on this summer’s finals, which are co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but an eventual return to club football could interest the former Tottenham and Chelsea head coach.

The 2023–24 season was his last club spell as Chelsea boss, with the Blues finishing sixth in the Premier League and losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool.

He previously spent a season and a half at Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup.

He had a five-and-a-half-year spell at Tottenham and reached the 2019 Champions League final, only for Spurs to lose 2-0 to Liverpool.

Pochettino, who also managed Espanyol in Spain and Southampton, was a defender during his playing career and made 20 appearances for Argentina.

AC Milan sacked Allegri earlier this week After failing to qualify for the Champions League, a season in the club’s hierarchy has been described as an “unequivocal failure”.

Milan dropped from third to fifth after losing 2–1 to Cagliari on the final day and missed out on the elite European competition for the second consecutive year, although they did secure a Europa League spot.