LUIS ENRIQUE allegedly snubbed a move to Chelsea as he could see problems waiting for him behind the scenes.
The former Barcelona manager was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge prior to the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino in 2023.
But he rejected the opportunity and instead became Paris Saint-Germain boss just a few months later.
Over the last two years, Enrique has won nine major trophies – including the Champions League at the end of last season.
Had the 55-year-old taken the job at Chelsea when interviewed, the last three years would have been very different.
Football journalist Graham Hunter has revealed that Enrique identified several issues at the club when he visited their Cobham training ground.
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He told talkSPORT: “Before he took over at Paris Saint-Germain, Enrique had a very successful interview with Clearlake at Cobham for the Chelsea job and he said: ‘I’m not taking that job.’
“He saw exactly what Enzo Maresca has suffered and I know because he told us in the making of the documentary that we had with him.
“He saw interfering owners, 62 directors of football… there’s a problem coming.”
Hunter went on to claim that Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid on Monday following a 3-2 loss to rivals Barcelona, would never move to Chelsea due to the lack of control the head coach is given.
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He continued: “Alonso would not choose Chelsea.
“If I’m wrong, get me back on the show and humiliate me when Alonso is the new Chelsea manager.
“He won’t choose that because he sees it like you see it, honestly. He would view it with, ‘I’m not going there, I have choices.’
“It’s a seller’s market when you’re Xabi Alonso, in my opinion, and I think he’ll go to a club where now, having had his fingers burned at the club he loves, the club he wanted to be in charge of, he will choose differently next time.”
The revelation comes almost two weeks after the departure of Maresca.
The Italian was axed following a fall-out with club officials which was made public.
Liam Rosenior was announced as his successor last week.