"Mauricio and the entire team has been incredibly transparent the entire process," Batson said at the federation's national training centre in Fayetteville, Georgia, where the squad assembled for their World Cup camp.
"Even when we first met a couple of summers ago, there were lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and his team join. He had standing offers from other places to come. He wanted to be here."
Batson confirmed the AC Milan approach was one of many that Pochettino's camp had disclosed to US Soccer over the past two years, and that the volume of club interest had been considerably greater than what has entered the public domain.
Pochettino, speaking to reporters himself, denied having met personally with Milan officials, while stopping short of the same denial for his representatives. He said his sole focus is the World Cup, which begins on June 11.
His players endorsed that picture without hesitation. Midfielder Tyler Adams said the squad was not distracted.
"He's fully present with us every single day, finding ways to make us better, focusing on the trainings, just as we are."
Winger Tim Weah was equally direct: "We live in the present."
Batson also opened the door to a longer-term relationship, confirming that substantive conversations about the post-World Cup cycle are already underway.
"We have had many in-depth conversations about what the next four years could look like. We are excited about that, and I am sure that Mauricio and his staff are 100 percent focused on this summer."
Pochettino's contract expires at the end of the tournament. Milan's vacancy, created by Allegri's dismissal following the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League, remains open with the Argentine coach among several candidates the club has spoken to. His availability immediately after the World Cup makes the timing of the interest difficult to ignore — though for now, Batson's message was that the only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch this summer.