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According to reports, former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is interested in replacing Xavi Hernandez as the manager of the Catalan giants at the end of the season.
Xavi has already announced his decision to leave Barca at the end of this season. The legendary midfielder struggled at the start of the year, before telling the press his decision after a shock 5-3 loss to Villarreal in January. However, since that point, the team have found a resurgence on the pitch, climbing to second place in La Liga and reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
This has led to rumors that Xavi may yet change his mind, especially if his team can continue to impress on the field. Higher-ups at the club have also expressed their hopes that he will stay, but the manager has not gone back on his decision yet. This has led to a flurry of potential options looking to manage the Catalan giants next season.
According to a new report from Barca reservat (via Football Espana), Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is interested in returning to the Camp Nou dugout. The 53-year-old tactician reportedly has a point to prove, despite the success he enjoyed with the Blaugrana during his stint as their manager.
Enrique had an unforgettable time at Camp Nou. He led them to an impressive trophy haul, racking up two La Liga titles, three Copas del Rey, and a Supercopa de Espana. He also helped them secure the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup, while also winning the FIFA Club World Cup.
Enrique recently led PSG to the semi-finals of the Champions League after beating Barcelona in the quarter-finals. With the Spanish tactician contracted to the Parisians till 2025, a return to the Camp Nou seems rather unlikely.
Luis Enrique and Xavi Hernandez embraced ahead of Champions League clash between Barcelona and PSG
When PSG hosted their Catalan counterparts at the Parc des Princes, managers of both clubs greeted each other warmly. Both Xavi and Enrique played for Barcelona during their years on the pitch, and they have both managed the club. It's also worth noting that Xavi was the captain when Enrique led them to the Champions League title in 2015.
Therefore, it's hardly any surprise that there was warmth between the two, as can be seen below:
The quarter-finals weren't all that friendly on the pitch though, as Xavi got sent off in the second leg, with Barca picking up three red cards (two for the managerial staff, including Xavi). After losing at home, PSG went to Catalonia and secured a 4-1 win against all odds.
