Luis Enrique Reveals Key Reason Barcelona Return as Manager Didn’t Happen | OneFootball

There was a possibility that Luis Enrique wouldn’t be on the Paris Saint-Germain sidelines. Due to a domino effect, the capital club could entice the Spanish tactician to take their managerial job.

Last season, Enrique won the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France while leading PSG to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Nonetheless, all of this nearly didn’t happen.

Fichajes relayed an anecdote in the documentary following Luis Enrique’s life in Paris. An interesting revelation came to light: the Asturian coach was close to returning to FC Barcelona.

He shared that during the 2022-23 season, while Xavi Hernández’s team was struggling after back-to-back group stage exits in the Champions League, he held talks with the club’s management.

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Enrique explained that his agent, Iván de la Peña, had been in contact with Barcelona’s leadership. They discussed the possibility of him returning to the Camp Nou, but it hinged on how the rest of the season unfolded.

At one point, he asked a pivotal question: “If Xavi wins La Liga and the Copa, would you still replace him?” The response, though indirect, made it clear that a return wouldn’t be on the table if Xavi succeeded.

As it turned out, Xavi led Barcelona to win La Liga, and the rumors about Luis Enrique’s return faded. He ultimately decided to take on a new chapter at Paris Saint-Germain, where he remains as coach, despite facing criticism in recent weeks.