Barcelona will look to bring 53-year-old Spanish manager Luis Enrique back to Catalonia as they seek talks with him.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Luis Enrique is the subject of interest from Barcelona. Deco and Joan Laporta are driving the move for the 53-year-old manager to replace Xavi Hernandez ahead of the 2024/25 season. And the reigning La Liga champions want to open talks with him in the coming weeks.
Luis Enrique is one of the best managers of the past decade. A native of Gijon, he was a midfielder during his time as a footballer. Interestingly, the Spaniard belongs to a rare group of players to represent both Real Madrid and Barcelona, spending most of his career with those clubs after starting at boyhood team Sporting de Gijon.
The 53-year-old entered the managerial world in 2008, taking charge of Barcelona’s reserve side. But he rose in prominence during his stints with AS Roma and Celta Vigo before returning to Barcelona in 2014. Enrique enjoyed incredible success with the Blaugrana, winning the treble in his first season.
The Spanish tactician won nine trophies in three years with Barcelona, lifting the Copa del Rey in every season. Enrique’s next job came with the Spanish national side, managing La Roja for nearly four years. But his spell ended in 2022, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Luis Enrique has enjoyed a solid 2023/24 campaign with PSG, with Les Parisiens likely to lift the Ligue 1 title again. In addition, he hopes to guide Les Parisiens to the elusive UEFA Champions League crown. But a return to Barcelona might be on the cards, with Deco and Joan Laporta seeking talks over a possible move.
The Catalan giants are in the market for a manager, with Xavi Hernandez leaving the club when the 2023/24 season ends. Several candidates, including Julian Nagelsmann, have emerged on Barcelona’s radar. But Enrique is also a viable target, considering he knows the club inside out.
It is unclear if the 53-year-old former treble-winning manager is open to rejoining Barcelona this summer. But it might be surprising to see Enrique leaving PSG after only one season, especially if they do not win the Champions League.
