USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has opened the door to possibly managing the Argentina national team in the future.
During his playing days, the 52-year-old Argentine coach came through the tanks at Newell’s Old Boys, a club that Inter Miami talisman and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi also played for.
Speaking to CNN ahead of his first game in charge of the USMNT, a friendly against Panama at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on October 13, Pochettino spoke on the possibility of him leading his side out in a friendly against Argentina and possibly managing the Newell’s Old Boys or the Argentina national team later in his managerial career.
He said: “We haven’t talked about it but I would love to play against Argentina. It would represent an opportunity to face the best team in the world right now.”
“It’s obvious that my team in Argentina is Newell’s Old Boys. And why not coach Newell’s someday. It would be beautiful. And logically, even though there are so many great Argentine managers, coaching the Argentina national team could happen as well if the opportunity presents itself.”
After an 18-year trophy-laden career in Europe, Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, a move that has proved transformational for Major League Soccer (MLS).
The Argentina captain has scored 30 goals and provided 17 assists in 35 games for the American side, leading Miami to the Supporters Shield and the Leagues Cup.
Pochettino managed Messi during his time in charge of Paris Saint-Germain.
When asked about the 37-year-old forward’s impact on Major League Soccer, Pochettino said: “His impact is impossible to measure because it’s simply incredible. It’s his ability to motivate the fans and the entire (MLS) structure, plus the players in who are are able to say that they’re competing against the best player in the world.
“That leads to incredible personal growth. His impact is so massive that it’s difficult to measure today. But it’ll have an impact today and as time passes, both in the short and long term.
“Having Messi here, being able to see him, touch him, creates a level of confidence and a sense of belief in things that are possible to accomplish.”
(Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
