Why did Thomas Tuchel reject chance to manage Manchester United? Report provides update
Thomas Tuchel reportedly turned down an offer to manage Manchester United in the summer due to the club's transfer policy. The former Chelsea manager was in the fray to manage the Red Devils after the club finished eighth in the Premier League, their worst-ever finish in the PL era.
Tuchel had left Bayern Munich after the end of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season and is now without a club. He was slated to return to the Premier League and even held discussions with minority United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
During the same time, the club was in the process of cementing a new football structure with Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
According to the Bild, Tuchel was unconvinced by Manchester United's transfer structure, so he turned down the offer to move to Old Trafford. Before the start of the new season, it was reported that current boss Erik ten Hag wouldn't play any role in recruitment and would focus solely on coaching instead.
Here's what German pundit Marcel Reif told Bild:
"I would have bet a lot that Tuchel would replace Ten Hag. I recently had another conversation with someone who is very close to that. It was pretty far along, almost in agreement.
"As far as the squad is concerned, the considerations were different. Tuchel said pretty much at the finish line: 'I'm not doing that! I won't do that to myself again, that I go to a club and then things come from outside.'".
However, the Red Devils signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, two players known to the Dutch manager.
Furthermore, the odds had shifted in Ten Hag's favour after United won the FA Cup, beating cross-city rivals Manchester City 2-1 to win their second domestic trophy under the Dutch manager.
Where do Manchester United stand in the Premier League table after three games?
Manchester United won their first game of the season, beating Fulham 1-0 at home. Debutant Joshua Zirkzee scored the sole goal of the game in the 87th minute off the bench
However, they lost 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion in their next game before losing going down 3-0 to Liverpool at home. The Red Devils are 14th in the standjngs. United face Southampton on September 14 after the international break.