United’s pursuit of two-time CL winner manager under threat after major decision by European giants – report

Luis Enrique is on Manchester United’s wishlist for the summer, but it appears that prising him away from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will be next to impossible. The Spaniard is arguably one of the best managers in the world at present, and has transformed the Ligue 1 champions’ fortunes since taking charge. He caught the imagination of clubs across Europe after winning the treble with Barcelona in the 2014/15 season. After three highly fruitful campaigns with the Catalans and two brief stints with the Spain national team, Enrique took charge at the Parc des Princes in the summer of 2023. The 55 year old went on to revamp the Parisians’ transfer strategy, helping them deal with Kylian Mbappe’s departure and assemble an enviable squad. Last season, Enrique helped PSG secure a historic treble and further endeared himself to his suitors. Luis Enrique Managerial Career Stats TeamFromToGames (G)Wins (W)Draws (D)Losses (L)Goals For (GF)Goals Against (GA)Goal Difference (GD)Win % Barcelona B26 May 20088 June 2011124594025208139+6947.58 Roma8 June 201113 May 201242179166459+540.48 Celta8 June 201317 May 201440157185058−837.50 Barcelona19 May 201429 May 20171811382221519147+37276.24 Spain9 July 201826 March 20198602219+1275.00 Spain19 November 20198 December 202239201457628+4851.28 Paris Saint-Germain5 July 2023Present1641122923400157+24368.29 Total5973671201101,336595+74161.47 Source: Wikipedia. The Spaniard’s efforts have already earned him admirers at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils struggling to find Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor almost a decade and a half since the legendary Scot’s retirement. United’s recent managerial woes United last won the Premier League in the 2012/13 campaign, which was Sir Alex’s final season in charge. The English giants have had several stuttering starts since then, with big-name managers as well as emerging coaches failing to turn the club’s fortunes around. David Moyes, who was identified as the legendary Scot’s immediate successor, lost his job before the end of the campaign. Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho won trophies at Old Trafford, but failed to get the club back to the top. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer excited fans with an attacking brand of football reminiscent of the old days, but failed to win silverware. Erik ten Hag did win two trophies, but lost his way in his third campaign, before INEOS appointed Ruben Amorim as his successor. However, the Portuguese head coach’s reign turned out to be a disaster, with United finishing 15th in the league last season and losing the Europa League final. Michael Carrick was appointed as caretaker manager in January and has taken the club to third in the league table after 32 games. While the Englishman remains a candidate for the full-time job, United are expected to consider all their options before making a decision this summer. Enrique remains an option although a previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggested that he is likely to sign a new deal with the Parisians. An update on the matter has now emerged. Enrique close to renewal According to The Telegraph, Enrique is close to signing a new deal with PSG after positive renewal talks. The report states: “Luis Enrique is close to signing a new contract with Paris St-Germain, which will disappoint a number of Premier League clubs who have shown interest in the 55-year-old Spaniard.” “Talks have progressed positively on a deal with Enrique making it clear he wants to stay at PSG who he led to win the Champions League last year and who are in the semi-finals this season.” The report states that the Spaniard will sign a new deal until 2029, with an option for a further year, adding: “The expectation is that Enrique will extend his stay at PSG until 2029 with the option for a further 12 months. His current contract runs until June 2027 and while there is no hurry to secure a new deal both parties are happy and keen to finalise his future.” Final Thoughts Enrique would have been the perfect candidate to steer United back to their glory days, but he was always expected to extend his stay at PSG. While the latest update could boost Carrick’s chances for the full-time job, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola’s availability this summer could complicate matters for the Englishman. Featured image David Ramos via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.