Luis Enrique reveals he could have returned to Barcelona before Xavi’s exit | OneFootball

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, who currently manages Paris Saint-Germain, has made a revelation that he could have returned to Blaugrana, even before Xavi had left his position at the club.

This revelation comes from his new series, ‘You don’t have a **** idea’, which presents a more personal and candid side of the coach, rarely seen in public.

The series also uncovers some of the behind-the-scenes details about Enrique’s potential return to Barcelona and the conditions he outlined for it.

What’s the story?

After his tenure as Spain’s national team manager came to an end following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Luis Enrique was eager to get back into club management.

Around that time, Barcelona were going through a period of uncertainty with many questions surrounding Xavi’s leadership. This is when Joan Laporta reached out to Enrique, considering him for a possible return as the team’s manager in the summer of 2023.

Luis Enrique could have been a Barcelona coach today. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

In one episode of the series, Enrique opens up about how close he came to returning to Barcelona. He explained that he demanded complete confidence from Laporta in this decision.

Enrique wanted to be assured that Xavi wouldn’t be replaced unfairly, especially if he was successful. He essentially asked Laporta if he would fire Xavi even if he managed to win both the league and the cup.

“Are you going to fire Xavi if he wins the League and the Cup? No, right? Well, that’s it,” said Enrique as quoted by MARCA.

As it turned out, Xavi did win the league that season, which secured his position as Barcelona’s manager. However, the following season proved to be disastrous, eventually leading to Xavi’s departure.

Reflecting on the situation, Luis Enrique mentioned to his staff that if he had waited a little longer, he could have found himself managing Barcelona once again.

“If I had waited a little, I could have been coaching Barça. Who knows,” he added.

While Enrique’s return to Barcelona didn’t materialise, his candid reflections highlight how close he was to reclaim his place at the Catalan club during a time of uncertainty.