“I can break a record” - Barcelona icon Luis Enrique makes feelings clear about coaching Real Madrid

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique recently joked about potentially coaching Real Madrid in the future. Speaking to 3Cat (via Barca Universal), Enrique pointed out he had achieved three of the four requirements to make a unique record, which is playing and managing at Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager, however, has yet to coach Los Blancos. Joking on the unique possibility, he said:

“I don’t think there is anyone in history who has been a player and coach for Barça and Madrid. I can break a record. I’m not going to do it,” he began saying. “It would be nice. Just kidding, just kidding.”

Enrique spent five seasons as a player with Real Madrid (1991-96), making 213 appearances, with 18 goals and nine assists. He joined Barcelona from Madrid in 1996, going on to spend eight seasons with the Blaugrana and retiring in 2004. He made 300 appearances for them, registering 108 goals and 40 assists.

He later coached Barca (2014-2017), winning two LaLigas, three Copa Del Reys, one Supercopa de Espana, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup.

Luis Figo is another star player to have played for Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years

Luis Figo joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2000, following the appointment of Florentino Perez as the president of Los Blancos. His move sparked controversy around Spain due to the high-profile nature of the transfer.

Remembering the day Figo returned to play at Nou Camp as a Real Madrid player, Enrique said:

“The game I experienced the most atmosphere at Camp Nou was the day Figo returned. Figo was like a brother to us. He was our best player and he left for Madrid. I remember commenting to Pep that it was impossible for us to lose. There was an energy that was even scary.”

Barcelona eventually eked out a win, with Enrique praising both Figo and Carles Puyol.

“Figo was marked by a very young Puyol, a beast. Figo was Madrid’s best player despite that pressure, which I wouldn’t have imagined there would be, and we won the game because it was impossible not to win it.”