Former Tottenham managers Mauricio Pochettino was one of sporting director, Eric Abidal’s top choices to replace Ernesto Valverde.
Quique Setien eventually taking the role as Barca’s fourth option, the Camp Nou door is shut for now.
Yet that still hasn’t stopped Champions League finalist Pochettino from hoping for a union with his compatriot Lionel Messi one day.
Speaking to Radio de Plata in their shared homeland of Argentina this week, a widely-circulated headline quote across the South American nation comes in the form of Pochettino saying, “I want to return to Newell’s [Old Boys] with Messi.”
Probed on whether he wishes to make a comeback to the Rosario outfit where he and the 32-year-old both began their careers, Pochettino’s exact words were: “I can still wait, [for an opportunity with Newell’s] and the best [possible scenario] would be in 10 years with Messi.”
Still on the subject of the Ballon d’Or winner, Pochettino explained that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar “is a huge goal for Messi and for the Argentine [national] team.”
“I hope he arrives at a great moment. Age gives him [this],” Pochettino went on, stating that the game owes Messi and his golden generation the title.
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“His presence will be a recognition of the generation that deserved something more. Argentina is going to come well [equipped] to fight for the World Cup,” he concluded.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
