FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. -- United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino denied that he met with AC Milan to discuss their vacant head coach post, but didn't extend that denial to his representatives. He instead insisted that he is 100% committed to the U.S. squad heading into the World Cup.
Pochettino's contract with U.S. Soccer runs through the end of the coming World Cup, and sources earlier confirmed to ESPN that Pochettino has spoken with the Italian Serie A giants.
Pochettino met with reporters following Thursday's training session at the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Training Center outside Atlanta. He gave a direct "no" when asked if he had met with Milan, who recently fired coach Massimiliano Allegri after the club failed to qualify for next year's UEFA Champions League.
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But when asked if his representatives had met with Milan, Pochettino said: "My representatives? It may be possible because they need to do their job."
He added: "We always say we finish our contract in July after the World Cup. Of course that we have approaches and ... of course I met some people, different clubs. But that is a conversation because we have friends in football. We have friends everywhere, and my representatives work for me to try to find the best possibility for the future. That is normal."
Pochettino reiterated that he has every intention of seeing out his contract. "If a club came and say, 'Oh Mauricio, we want you, but you need to start tomorrow,' I say, 'Sorry, I commit with the [U.S.] national team,'" he said.
This isn't the first time Pochettino has been linked with a return to club soccer during his tenure with the U.S. team. Pochettino has been connected with openings at Brentford last June as well as with former club Tottenham. Pochettino refuted the links with Brentford and said a return to Tottenham was "not realistic."
Pochettino, who has residences in London and Barcelona, has often spoken of his desire to one day return to the Premier League, where he managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.
Sources told ESPN that Milan plan to invest heavily in youth as well as building a competitive squad and that this type of project appeals to Pochettino.
The Argentina coach said he and U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson discussed the possibility of him staying on during dinner Sunday in New York City.
"He asked if we are open to listen [to] the project of the federation for the next four years," Pochettino said. "And we said: Of course that we are open. Do you think that if we have a commitment with another people, we are going to waste time to listen?"
Batson said earlier Thursday that Pochettino has been "incredibly transparent" about approaches from other clubs, though he didn't directly address reports linking Pochettino to the opening at AC Milan.
"[Pochettino], and the entire team, has been incredibly transparent [through] the entire process," Batson told reporters Thursday. "So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join.
"He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here. He's a big believer in what we're doing at U.S. Soccer. He's a big believer in soccer in America, and he's a big believer in this men's team.
"And so throughout this entire process, when you have top-class talent -- whether it's salespeople, whether it's marketing people or whether it's coaches -- other organizations want them. And throughout this, Mauricio and team have been incredibly transparent. They've been great partners, and we're of course excited about the summer."
Batson added that he had no doubts about Pochettino's commitment in leading the USMNT at the World Cup.
"I'm confident that Mauricio and team are 100% focused on this summer," he said. They're excited. They're among the first people here this morning. They're the last to leave last night.
"They couldn't be more excited about being here in our new home. A lot of what Mauricio has talked about with our entire staff earlier today is around how we turn this house into our home. They're huge believers in that.
Batson also said that the USSF has monthly meetings in which it talks about succession planning.
"We have plans for renewals, we have plans for interims and we have plans for replacements because you never know what's going to happen," Batson said. "It's a global sport, lots going on. And so that's a standard part of us growing up as U.S. Soccer."
Pochettino himself hasn't ruled out remaining with the U.S. team, telling reporters this past March, "Who knows what is going to happen? Like I said, we are open. We don't have a contract for the future. But why not if we are happy and the federation is happy?"
Milan recently cleaned house following a disappointing Serie A campaign that saw the Rossoneri fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. Head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare and CEO Giorgio Furlani were all fired, with special adviser and former Milan player Zlatan Ibrahimovic the only senior individual retained.
Sources confirmed that Pochettino is one of several candidates with whom Milan have spoken.
The club has also been in contact with Antonio Conte, who has announced he'll be leaving Napoli this summer, outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Austria men's national team coach Ralf Rangnick.
Pochettino was hired to lead the USMNT in September 2024 and has a record of 13-7-2 (W-L-D) during his tenure.
The U.S. is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico and faces group stage matches against Paraguay on June 12, Australia on June 19 and Türkiye on June 25.