'It was basically done!' - Thomas Tuchel sensationally snubbed move to Premier League powerhouse before accepting England job as he's told he made wrong call

The renowned football agent Pini Zahavi recently disclosed that Tuchel was close to becoming Manchester United’s manager before the club’s stakeholders, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, decided to give Erik ten Hag more time in the summer. This decision now stands as a pivotal “what if” for both Tuchel and United, given Ten Hag’s recent dismissal and the German's new mandate with the Three Lions.

Last season’s underwhelming campaign left United finishing a disappointing eighth in the Premier League, sparking serious doubts within the club’s hierarchy regarding Ten Hag’s future. Despite a victory in the FA Cup final over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, their overall season had been marred by inconsistent performances and a lack of progress. This lacklustre showing had many questioning if Ten Hag was the right choice to lead United into the next phase.

The club’s leadership, after an exhaustive end-of-season review, weighed several options. Exploratory discussions were held with prominent managerial figures, including Tuchel, as well as candidates like Kieran McKenna, Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Silva, Gareth Southgate, Thomas Frank, and Graham Potter.

Zahavi, whose clientele includes prominent footballers such as Christopher Nkunku, Angel Gomes, Robert Lewandowski, and Jonathan Tah, recently expressed regret that Tuchel did not seize the chance to lead Manchester United. Speaking to Die Welt, Zahavi revealed that Tuchel was a frontrunner to take the United role, with all the necessary groundwork in place.

“If I were Thomas, I would have gone to Manchester United," he said.

"He had the opportunity. Everything was prepared, and the deal was basically done. Thomas has a spark of genius in him. But in today’s football, you have to be wise and a diplomat. He will have to learn that.”

Just months after the initial decision to retain him, United endured another turbulent start to the season. The tipping point arrived with a 2-1 loss to West Ham, a defeat that ultimately led United to part ways with Ten Hag. By then, Tuchel had already been confirmed as England’s incoming head coach, and United had to quickly secure a replacement. They turned to Ruben Amorim, who has now signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and is set to start on Monday as the new manager of the 20-time English champions.

Tuchel is set to take up the England position on January 1, 2025, under a one-and-a-half-year contract that extends through the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Lee Carsley will oversee England’s last two Nations League games against Greece and Ireland in November.