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Manchester United have been given further strong hope that Mauricio Pochettino will become their next permanent manager with the Argentine refusing to confirm whether he will stay as PSG boss for the long term.

The Red Devils are in the process of recruiting a new manager to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian was sacked after an dismal run of form saw them lose seven of his last 13 games in charge. However, life is already looking up after an important win under caretaker boss Michael Carrick in Villarreal.

Still, that wasn’t enough for Paul Scholes, who still questioned the club and their decision to sign two players.

However, ignoring the criticisms, the club are embarking on the process of first recruiting an interim manager. That man will likely guide the club through til May when a permanent successor takes over.

According to widespread reports, former Tottenham and current PSG boss  Pochettino is the club’s ‘first choice‘.

And to aid United’s cause of landing Pochettino, a report states legendary figure Sir Alex Ferguson is also doing his bit.

Indeed, reports earlier this week indicated that Pochettino is willing to quit PSG for the stronger stability at Old Trafford.

Now Pochettino has been speaking again about his chances of staying in Paris for the long term.

And, speaking after their 2-1 Champions Leafue loss at Manchester City, his response to Canal + only offered further intrigue.

“Thank you, ciao,” was his simple response to the question.

However, in his post-match presser, Pochettino could not offer any guarantees when asked if his players knew what his future holds.

“The players know very well our situation,” said Pochettino.

“I think we are living in a business in which rumours are there. Sometimes negative, sometimes positive, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. That is what we say about the rumours.”

Pochettino admits PSG struggles

Pochettino also knows his players endured something of a tough lesson from City.

“I think the first half was difficult because Manchester City forced us to play deeper and it can be a good or a worse situation,” Pochettino told PSG TV, via Metro.

“We have suffered, but you have to know how to suffer at this level, in the Champions League, and against a team like Manchester City, there are times when you need to suffer.

“In the second half I think we started better. I think we controlled the game in many periods and we scored. Afterwards, the circumstances of the team did not help us to continue in the same way and then we conceded a goal.

“A little disappointed but the qualification is there. We were hoping to be the first so yes it’s disappointing on this point.”

Pochettino signs Man Utd shirt

Perhaps the biggest indication of his intentions came though after Pochettino was seen signing a fan’s Manchester United shirt.

Is it a sign? This Man Utd fan saw Mauricio Pochettini inside the PSG team hotel, and he was happy to give an autograph on this #MUFC shirt pic.twitter.com/9PpqatBhLN

— Ben Ransom (@BenRansomSky) November 24, 2021

The footage emerged on Wednesday as the fan explained the turn of events to talkSPORT.

“We met Poch today, my kid had his autograph stuff in the bag and the guy goes, ‘see if you can get him to sign a Man United shirt’. That’s my kid’s shirt, what they didn’t post was the photo of him signing it,’ the United supporter said.

“There was a representative next to him going, ‘excuse me, it’s a Manchester United shirt, he won’t sign it’. And he goes, ‘it’s fine, it’s fine’ and he signed it.

“I fully expected him to [not sign it]. I said [to my son], ‘get your card signed first and put your shirt out and see what happens’.

“He was being told to turn it down, so he did have an out, but he didn’t and he signed it.”

READ MORE: Two more candidates interviewed as John Murtough leads recruitment drive

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