Leonardo Reveals He Tried to Recruit Luis Enrique for PSG Before 2023 Appointment

Leonardo revealed that he had made an attempt to recruit Luis Enrique before the final decision in 2023. The former sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain had reached out to the Spanish tactician to take the helm of the club.

What if Luis Enrique had signed with PSG earlier?

Leonardo shared that he had pursued the Spanish coach even before Luis Campos took charge. Ultimately, the deal fell through in 2012, leading to Carlo Ancelotti retaining his position.

“I worked for six years with Carlo Ancelotti at Milan and then at Paris,” Leonardo stated. “I was also his player for three months. We spent ten years together. But Luis Enrique, and this is a scoop, we reached out to him in 2012! I spoke with Luis Enrique regarding PSG, but at that time, he couldn’t take it. Luis Enrique is central to this project, not only as a great coach but for the impact he has on younger players. It was PSG’s destiny to end up with this kind of squad and this new energy. It transforms into a dream for everyone. It’s not just PSG’s dream; it’s everyone’s dream to see a French team win the Champions League with style,” he explained during an interview with RMC Sport.

Barcelona as the only club to lure him away from Paris

Enrique has always been vocal about his deep affection for FC Barcelona, the club that nurtured him as both a player and a coach. Should Barcelona offer him a new opportunity, he might be tempted by the Catalan allure. However, as things stand now, it’s hard to see how the Iberian tactician would consider leaving PSG. No other club in Europe can provide him with such a high level of competitiveness and near-complete authority.