Tottenham Hotspur fans have claimed that Mauricio Pochettino will not join Barcelona despite links with the club.

The Argentine has been out of work since his sacking by Spurs at the end of November.

However, RAC1 claims that Pochettino is now the leading candidate to become the new Barca manager after former midfielder Xavi rejected a return to Camp Nou.

Spurs fans, though, are convinced that there is no way Pochettino will move to Catalonia due to his ties with Espanyol.

The Argentine played for the club between 1994 and 2001 and went on to manage them between 2009 and 2012.

However, one ought to look a little closer at what Pochettino said of links with a move to Arsenal.

Following his sacking by Spurs, the Gunners removed Unai Emery as manager and Pochettino was reportedly seen as a viable candidate to take over at The Emirates before they appointed Mikel Arteta.

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It is instructive that he said he would have been “open” to such a move and such an opportunity to cross the north London divide despite spending over five years on the white side of north London.

If he was willing to move to Arsenal, one has to believe that a move to Barca would surely appeal, particularly in mid-season, despite him previously saying he would not manage the club due to his previous affiliations.

Not only would he have the opportunity to take over one of the biggest clubs in world football and work with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but he would also be jumping into the hotseat at a side in rude health.

Barca currently lead La Liga on goal difference from Real Madrid and have won the last two league titles in Spain.

Don’t be so quick to rule it out; Pochettino, also, would be foolish to snub such an opportunity.

There is no bigger job currently available in world football; snubbing it because of Espanyol would be ludicrous, to put it simply.

Meanwhile, one Spurs player has been absolutely savaged by fans.