Manchester United have shortlisted Pep Guardiola 's "special" friend Luis Enrique in their search for a new manager.
The Red Devils are still looking for a permanent successor to interim boss Ralf Rangnick and Guardiola is a huge admirer of one of United's targets, who he has described as 'one of the best managers he has ever seen'.
The two Spaniards share the feat of winning trebles with Barcelona and put their name on the managerial map after reigning supreme at the Camp Nou, with Enrique's 2015 triumph following Guardiola's 2009 romp.
While Rangnick holds the fort until the end of the season, ESPN say that Enrique is being considered by the Red Devils, despite the Spain boss shutting down talk after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November, asking a reporter if it was April Fool's Day.
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Given his commitment to the Spanish national team until after the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, Enrique would be a difficult target to acquire, but United are said to be open to 'exploring' the possibility.
Mirror Football understands that United's players are hoping ex- Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino gets the job, while reports claim that Rangnick believes Ajax 's Erik ten Hag would be a good fit.
But they would have the backing of Manchester City 's boss if they went with Enrique, as Guardiola has consistently been full of praise for the man he starred alongside 147 times when the pair played for Barcelona in the 1990s.
Four years ago, while Enrique was being linked with the Chelsea job, the City manager stated: "He has the level to train everywhere , no problem at all.
"Luis Enrique is one of the best managers I have ever seen . He is a friend of mine so I know he can do whatever he wants."
And during the 51-year-old's three trophy-laden seasons in charge of the Blaugrana which ended in 2017, Guardiola claimed that he had "no doubt" his pal would be a success in the dugout by giving another rave review.
"You could see that he was special right from the start," he added, then boss at Bayern Munich. "He is direct, honest, hard-working"
The duo's footballing careers are starkly similar, as both have been captain at the Camp Nou; both have coached the club's B-team; and both have managed the first-team, winning a treble in their first campaign.
Enquire's track record of success with world-class players at a club similar in stature to the 20-time English champions certainly gives him a good enough CV for the role.
The 51-year-old also guided a young Spain side to the semi-finals of the European Championships last summer, with La Roja playing their best football since their early 2010s dynasty.
They were beaten by winners Italy, who are managed by Roberto Mancini, someone else who Old Trafford chiefs are reportedly monitoring as a wildcard option.
