Luis Enrique: Real Madrid take major decision on Man United target | OneFootball

Manchester United’s pursuit of their next permanent manager is likely to dominate headlines in the coming weeks. Recent results suggest that caretaker manager Michael Carrick, who took over from former head coach Ruben Amorim in January, could be an option for the role as well.

The Englishman has helped to minimise the disappointments of the Portuguese head coach’s 14-month reign. Carrick has registered seven wins and one defeat in his first 10 games in charge and has powered the Red Devils to third in the Premier League table with seven games left in the season.

While the calls to make the Englishman’s stay permanent are getting stronger by the minute, the Premier League giants have resisted the temptation to give in to public sentiment. United have endured tough luck with managers since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and are eager to get it right this summer.

INEOS are likely to look for a world-class manager who can manage the dressing-room egos while also delivering results and trophies. Recent reports have suggested that Luis Enrique is among the candidates on their wish list.

Enrique’s trophy-winning pedigree

Enrique became a household name after guiding Barcelona to a treble in the 2014/15 campaign. During his three-season stay at Camp Nou, the Spaniard won 138 of his 181 games in charge, registering a 76.24% win ratio.

Enrique left the Catalans in 2017, having guided them to nine trophies, including two LaLiga titles and one Champions League trophy. After two mixed spells with the Spain national team, the 55 year old took charge at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer of 2023 and has since transformed their fortunes.

Last season, Enrique masterminded a historic treble at the Parc des Princes, which included the Ligue 1 giants’ first Champions League trophy. He has registered a 68.10% win ratio with PSG, recording 111 wins from 163 games.

Luis Enrique Managerial Stats

Source: Wikipedia.

The Spaniard has won 10 trophies at the Parc des Princes so far and has earned admirers at the Theatre of Dreams. A previous report from The Peoples Person, however, states that Enrique is likely to sign an extension with PSG. The latest update could put another dent in United’s plans.

Real Madrid want Enrique

According to Football Transfers, Real Madrid have identified Enrique as a possible replacement for Alvaro Arbeloa. The report states: “Real Madrid want to appoint Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as their next permanent head coach, FootballTransfers understands.”

Los Blancos appointed Arbeloa as Xabi Alonso’s replacement in January, but his position remains under scrutiny. It is unclear whether Arbeloa is a permanent appointment, but a review of the situation is expected this summer.

The report states that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has already set his sights on Enrique as the next manager. It adds: “Despite his ties to Barcelona, we have been informed that Real Madrid have earmarked him as a top target for the head coach role, and we understand that PSG have identified the aforementioned Alonso as a potential replacement if Enrique opts to leave the Parc des Princes this summer.”

Final Thoughts

Enrique could have been a fantastic choice for United’s next permanent manager, but his potential arrival at Old Trafford is looking increasingly unlikely. With Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti also unavailable, the Red Devils could be tempted to stick with Carrick if he delivers a strong end to the campaign.

Featured image David Ramos via Getty Images

online polls

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