Emmanuel Petit has delivered a brutal message about Luis Enrique and Manchester United, as the Red Devils look for a new manager after the sacking of Ruben Amorim
PSG head coach Luis Enrique
PSG head coach Luis Enrique(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United stand no chance of persuading Luis Enrique to take the helm as their next manager, given the Spaniard's reluctance to join the 'circus' at Old Trafford.
This is the opinion of former Premier League champion Emmanuel Petit, who was a teammate of the current Paris Saint-Germain boss at Barcelona during the 2000/01 La Liga season.
Enrique has since clinched two Spanish league titles and the Champions League with the Catalan giants, before replicating this success with PSG in France. The 55-year-old is widely acknowledged as one of the world's top managers, but Petit believes there's virtually no possibility of him becoming the next main man at United.
In an interview with German publication Hochgepokert, the French World Cup victor stated: "Luis Enrique to Man Utd? I know that Luis Enrique hasn't signed an extension at PSG, but I'm pretty sure that Luis Enrique is an intelligent guy. He knows perfectly that he cannot achieve anything bigger than what he did last season with Paris Saint-Germain.
"The Qatari owners were looking for that for ages and with Luis Enrique, they achieved their dream of winning the Champions League, they were playing brilliantly as well.
"Now, Luis Enrique knows exactly what he did last season. He cannot repeat it. That's why he doesn't want to sign another contract with PSG.
"Should he go to Manchester United? The circus of Manchester United? Do you think a guy like Luis Enrique would work there? Since the Qatari owners arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, they had never given the power to their manager.
"They always controlled the dressing room, who was going to be out of the club, who was going to come to the club. Then they gave the power to Luis Enrique and they won the Champions League."
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique has been linked with Manchester United(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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United are once more searching for a new manager following Amorim's dismissal, merely 14 months after his predecessor Erik ten Hag also faced the sack.
Caretaker boss Michael Carrick enjoyed the perfect start at the weekend, steering the Red Devils to a 2-0 victory over fierce rivals Manchester City. However, the former United midfielder knows his role is only temporary, as owners INEOS seek a high-profile successor to Amorim.
Yet Petit reckons it's the absence of authority over footballing decisions that will stop United from securing someone of Enrique's calibre.
The former Arsenal midfielder commented: "He has the power [at PSG] to say, 'No, I want to keep him. Sell this player. Bring this player.' So if he comes, if he goes to Manchester United, do you think that will work with all these clowns behind him at Manchester United?
"Those guys are saying to the manager, 'You should do this. You should play this player. Why did you say you would like to get this player? No, no, no, we are not focused on him. We are planning to bring another player,'".
"Just like what happened with Enzo Maresca to Chelsea. Can you imagine the likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jose Mourinho coming to Manchester United in their current state? Not a chance.
"It's like they want a puppet, I'd challenge them to go and sit on that bench instead of putting pressure on the manager."
Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy
Luis Enrique won the Champions League with PSG last season(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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United haven't lifted a Premier League trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. In the years that followed, the club has cycled through eight permanent managers and two caretaker spells (both under Carrick), yet success has remained elusive.
Petit, who secured the Premier League title with Arsenal in 1998, outlined the sole conditions under which decorated coach Enrique might entertain the United role.
He continued: "If I was Luis Enrique and Man Utd wanted me, I would have one condition, to be the manager, not the head coach, he needs to demand control.
"Would they agree? I'm not sure about that. We have seen how disastrous this club is. It's Ineos behind that. And Ineos as well at Nice are doing such bad, bad work. For the same reason.
"So good luck for the next manager, Michael Carrick. Good luck to him. Good luck for the next manager as well.
"They will probably get a new manager for sure. Why? Because the next manager will get the guarantee to get so much money. After five months, he will be fired and will leave the club with between £10million-£15 million."