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The agent of Julian Nagelsmann has stated that the former Bayern Munich manager was Chelsea’s first choice candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge this summer, ahead of the now incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Nagelsmann withdrew his candidacy for the Blues position in April after becoming dissatisfied with the process, paving the way for Pochettino’s return to the Premier League.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to terms with Chelsea and will travel to London in the coming days to sign a three-year contract.
Nagelsmann Made Correct Decision To Turn Away ‘Club In Troubled Waters’
Volker Struth, however, argued in Bild’s podcast Phrasenmaher that Nagelsmann was correct to reject a “club in troubled waters”
In addition, he dismissed Chelsea as a club “spending a few hundred million euros” to solve their problems and indicated that he would have to meet huge and unrealistic expectations as a result.
The 57-year-old agent said: “I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call [after Nagelsmann’s dismissal at Bayern Munich]. There were some phone conversations.”
“It was the right decision [by Nagelsmann] not to go there,” he explained on the podcast ,”It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment.”
“And their transfer policy, spending a few hundred million euros, has raised expectations that need to be met,” he continued, “There were also some other issues.”
Nagelsmann ‘Was Their Number One Choice’
Nagelsmann’s agent then went on to explain to the hosts that his client was the preferred choice of the Chelsea board when it came to selecting a new permanent manager.
“He was their number one, that was our information,” he detailed, “I believe it would have happened if he had wanted it.”
According to a recent report in The Athletic, Chelsea have refuted such claims.
The American owned club have confirmed their interest in Nagelsmann but denied he was their top candidate. The Blues’ statement follows the announcement that Pochettino had consented to become the next Chelsea manager.
Pochettino will fly in from Spain to finalize his appointment as the new head coach of Chelsea. The ex-Spurs boss will sign a three-year contract to replace interim manager Frank Lampard ahead of next season, according to the latest reports.
The 51-year-old Argentinean manager negotiated his own contract and is currently awaiting approval from his attorney before signing the agreement.
Meanwhile, Nagelsmann has been inactive since March, when he was fired from his position as Bayern Munich manager and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
Despite that appointment, Bayern still find themselves in a title race with rivals Borussia Dortmund. After 32 games played the Bavarian side lead Dortmund by just a single point.
The German manager has been linked with the Real Madrid job as well as a host of other vacancies that are set to arise at some of Europe’s most elite clubs this summer, though it remains uncertain whether or not the coach will want to throw himself back into management right away.
Judging by the links with the Chelsea role, it does seem as if the former footballer is eager to get back in the game but all will be revealed this summer.
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