Mauricio Pochettino has not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Manchester United, the French club’s sporting director has said.
Leonardo called upon the Argentine to remain with the Ligue 1 leaders following speculation over his future and the vacant role at Old Trafford. Ralf Rangnick is set to be appointed the Red Devils’ interim ahead of a possible summer pursuit of Pochettino.
Speaking to AFP on Friday, Leonardo stated: “We do not want Pochettino to leave. He never asked to leave and no club contacted us in relation to him.”
Former Tottenham boss Pochettino refused to be drawn on reports regarding a move to Manchester in the build-up to PSG’s midweek Champions League defeat to United’s rivals, Manchester City.
“What another club are doing in that moment is not my business, not my problem,” Pochettino said. “I need to be focused on Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’m not going to make the mistake to talk. In the past, when I was at Espanyol and my dream was to meet [Sir Alex] Ferguson, all that, I can tell now it’s going to be misunderstood and out of context.
“I was a player at Paris Saint-Germain, I love the club, I love the fans. I think it’s a fantastic time to be at the club.”
Media speculation has also named Zinedine Zidane as Pochettino’s possible replacement at Parc des Princes, something which Leonardo also denies.
He added: “We have lots of respect for Zinedine Zidane, for what he did as a player and coach, but I can affirm very clearly that there was no contact or meeting with him.
“It is ridiculous to imagine that a meeting with Zidane could have taken place in a big hotel, in Paris, in front of the world.”
