Thomas Tuchel’s ‘Real Reason’ for Rejecting Manchester United Over the Summer as Talks Resume

Thomas Tuchel reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United during the summer due to disagreements with the club’s hierarchy over transfer policy. Despite being approached by United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag, the former Bayern Munich boss ultimately declined the offer.

Ratcliffe and United explored other managerial options following a challenging season under Ten Hag. However, the Dutchman was retained and signed a contract extension in early July. Now, with United struggling and sitting 14th in the Premier League after picking up just eight points from seven games, reports suggest the club is considering reigniting talks with Tuchel.

The German manager remains out of work after departing Bayern at the end of last season, making him an accessible option for United. While other candidates are reportedly being considered, they are currently employed elsewhere, which could complicate negotiations compared to a move for Tuchel.

According to reports from Bild, Tuchel was “extremely close” to taking over at Old Trafford, but disagreements over United’s transfer structure, particularly concerns about top-level interventions, led him to decline the role. Ten Hag himself later confirmed that Manchester United had approached Tuchel, saying, “Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”

Ten Hag was backed in the summer transfer window, with around £200 million spent on players such as Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, and young talent Sekou Kone. However, Yoro was injured during pre-season, and the other signings have had mixed results on the pitch.

When asked about his faith in Ten Hag, Ratcliffe was vague, telling the BBC, “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach, but at the end of the day, it’s not my call.” He emphasized that Manchester United’s new management team, including CEO Omar Berrada and Sporting Director Dan Ashworth, had only been in place since the summer and needed more time to assess and make strategic decisions.

Tuchel’s previous Premier League experience came with Chelsea, where he took over midway through the 2020-21 season. In his first campaign, he led Chelsea to Champions League glory and mounted a title challenge the following season, though the team faltered toward the end of the campaign. Now, as Manchester United’s struggles continue, the question remains whether the club will turn to Tuchel once again.