He’s leaving in 2027: Man Utd have Pochettino’s best talent since Kane

Perhaps the circularity that has seen Sir Alex-approved Mauricio Pochettino finally take the reins at Manchester United might be the spark this club needs to end these years of underperformance.

Pochettino cut an emotional figure as he bid farewell to a short but sweet tenure at the helm of USMNT. USA impressed at the World Cup, but came undone in the last 16 against a revived Belgium side.

It’s been ten years since Pochettino was first considered at Man United. A plan was in place to land the Argentinian manager, but Avram Glasner’s influence eventually saw Jose Mourinho step in for Louis van Gaal instead.

Poch has made his name since then, and his ability to effectively manage superstars makes him the perfect coach to raise the standards at the Theatre of Dreams.

The biggest superstars under Pochettino

This is not a Man United side at the top of their game, and they lack less superstar power than is expected for an outfit of such stature. This is emphasised by Bruno Fernandes rejecting two recent contract offers put forth by INEOS.

But Pochettino could change that. After all, he’s turned no shortage of stars into global sensations. At Tottenham, he oversaw the rise of 2026 Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane to one of the best players in the world; the Three Lions skipper scored 169 goals across 242 games for the 54-year-old’s Spurs side.

Getting more goals out of this struggling Red Devils strike-force will be crucial. There are so many talented players at Old Trafford who haven’t found form; in attack, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have the perfect blend of sharp cutting edge in front of goal and unique maverick-like qualities when on the ball.

Neither is Kane, nor Kylian Mbappe, who Poch managed for a year-and-a-half at Paris Saint-Germain, but if he manages to instil the kind of culture that allowed Spurs to grow into one of England’s most feared outfits, they could finally start living up to the lofty price tags.

Who could thrive under Pochettino

Mbeumo has scored four times across ten Premier League games this season. United are flattering to deceive, but there are ample signs that Pochettino can boost a free-flowing frontline.

Bruno Fernandes has recent rejected two contract offers from Man United; the skipper’s future feels more uncertain than it’s ever been, for he has flattered to deceive this season and looked a shell of the creator awarded the Premier League Player of the Year last term. Others now need to step up.

Kobbie Mainoo, for example, feels like a prototypical fit in Pochettino’s prospective system. He is mobile, progressive and durable when standing against pressure.

The academy sensation is still only 21 years old, and there’s a real sense that now is the time for him to kick on and show to those academy hopefuls behind him that staying with this club will see them emerge as superstars on the biggest stage.

It’s a shame United’s most talented young player isn’t going down the same track.

Pochettino will never use Man Utd’s biggest talent

Manchester United need a combination of hard work, togetherness and individual brilliance to return to the top. With that in mind, it’s a real shame that Pochettino won’t be able to utilise JJ Gabriel at the Theatre of Dreams – a young superstar who could have been Poch’s new Kane.

JJ Gabriel, 16, shocked INEOS and the United community when deciding to draw down the curtain on his career at the club, yet to have made his senior debut, with a deal agreed to join Mourinho at Real Madrid.

The move will be finalised next year, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that the final brushwork is being applied. The teenager and his father, who serves as his agent, have been frustrated at his lack of opportunities at Man United.

JJ Gabriel might feel that the superstardom of Real Madrid will help him reach the stars, but he has so much ability that he could make a name for himself wherever he might choose to go.

And of course, is Real Madrid really the best location for him? Will he earn the minutes he so craves. Endrick presents a perfect case study: the Brazilian attacker is one of the most skilled out there, but he’s been limited to a bit-part role in making the early-career jump toward Los Blancos.

Given that Pochettino has such a strong track record with youth, might JJ Gabriel and his entourage come to regret this one?

At Man United, he was promised a pathway to the first team. He would have had the opportunity to make that happen, with Pochettino the perfect coach to help him realise his ambitions.

Alas, he now has to challenge Mbappe and the like at Santiago Bernabeu. Good luck to him.