‘They called’: Barcelona tried to sign former manager as Xavi’s replacement

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has confirmed that Barcelona approached him to replace Xavi Hernandez just months before his former teammate delivered a La Liga title.

Enrique enjoyed a great adventure as Barcelona manager, leading the club to domestic titles and continental titles. However, he left the club for a new challenge that saw him coach the Spanish national team.

His era as Spain coach was not fruitful as they were dumped out of the 2022 World Cup by Morocco in a quarter-final penalty shootout.

Despite Spain performance at that World Cup, Enrique has revealed he was approached by Barcelona after the tournament.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique (Photo by Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)

By the time of that international tournament, Xavi’s Barcelona were two points clear of Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga, but had endured a dire Champions League group stage campaign, which included defeats to Bayern Munich and Inter.

Enrique has now revealed that Barcelona’s hierarchy reached out to him to replace Xavi.

“Barca called me during the 2022/23 season,” Enrique revealed in the Movistar documentary, No Teneis Ni P*** Idea (You Have No F***ing Idea) about his debut season in charge of PSG. “But then I asked them, ‘If Xavi wins La Liga and the Copa del Rey, would you still change him?’ And they didn’t even reply. If I had waited, clearly I would have options of managing them now.”

Xavi went on to secure his job by winning the La Liga and extend his contract at Barcelona until 2025. However, he was sacked after the 2023/24 season as Barcelona failed to defend their title.

Meanwhile, Enrique signed a two-year deal upon his arrival at PSG in 2023 and have reportedly explored the possibility of extending his contract ahead of its approaching expiration.