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The mounting criticism that Mauricio Pochettino was never truly dedicated to the U.S. men's national team will only be fueled further by the coach's own admission that he rejected the federation's proposal of a club-specific release clause, demanding instead that he remain available to any potential employer.
Pochettino's imminent departure from American soccer has sparked a deeply divided response.
Many casual fans were initially saddened to see the popular coach go, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his replacement. The Argentine revealed his own inner turmoil when he emotionally described his move to Manchester United as "the most difficult decision" of his professional life.
However, a growing wave of opinion has since emerged questioning Pochettino's track record with the USMNT and his dedication to the role. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager never concealed his ambition to return to the Premier League and even held talks with Italian club AC Milan on the eve of the World Cup.
Pochettino stayed long enough to guide the team to the round of 16—roughly what would be expected of a nation ranked 17th entering the tournament—before leaving his new contract unsigned for weeks. Just over three months into a four-year deal, the 54-year-old has acknowledged he simply could not pass up United's approach.
The ease of Pochettino's exit from U.S. Soccer was greatly facilitated by a release clause valued at approximately $10 million.
"The clause is a clause that worked for both sides, no?" the manager said during an interview with Fútbol de Primera, his tears gone and a smile restored.
It is standard practice for buyout clauses—whether for players or coaches—to be tied to a pre-agreed list of specific clubs. Yet Pochettino refused to narrow his options, even though Manchester United had always been the club he truly desired.
"I'll tell you something, the federation did want to include certain clubs. But I said, 'No.' Because you never, ever know."
"If they had pushed me to name a club, Manchester United would have been on that list," Pochettino added.
No Hard Feelings for Pochettino and USMNT
A heartfelt thank you from Mauricio Pochettino. pic.twitter.com/a7IF7hIDHr
If U.S. Soccer harbored any frustration over the manner of Pochettino's exit, they have managed to keep it well hidden. The departing coach was joined by U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson and federation president Cindy Parlow Cone at his emotional farewell on Friday, in a display of goodwill and gratitude for his contributions.
Pochettino insisted that his departure was handled smoothly: "The truth is that at all times, we were transparent: When Manchester United appeared and reached out to our representatives, we were always open from the very beginning. Everything went well, the federation understood it, too. I believe things were handled the way they should have been."
To justify his need for a release clause, Pochettino cited the possibility of "if the federation changes leadership, changes the people, new directors come in or a new sporting director might arrive."
"It was always about having the flexibility so that this commitment wouldn't become a very heavy burden for the federation in case something happened to break that relationship," he explained. "And in case our dream, right? In case a club that one always dreamed of managing comes along, there could be the possibility of a negotiation through all of this and that it wouldn't be an unpleasant way to end things.
'One Foot Out the Door'—Pochettino Torn Apart by MLS Legend
Three-time MLS Cup winner Alejandro Moreno showed little sympathy for his fellow South American. "He was flirting with anything that moves!" the ESPN FC pundit said bluntly this week. "He was flirting with anything that moved even before the World Cup. So you knew perfectly well that whenever an opportunity came along, he already had one foot out the door.
"So why, if you're the U.S. Soccer Federation, put yourself in a position where you're like the ugly duckling who should feel so grateful and so fortunate that Mauricio Pochettino wants to take you on as a project? No, no. If you're a federation, you carry yourself with the standing you deserve, and you give your team the respect it has earned."
"This is not charity work," Moreno stressed. "You're being paid well. Really well. So please, either you're here with your heart and soul, fully immersed in this United States men's national team project, or get out!"