Thierry Henry has reportedly rejected the opportunity to join Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching staff at Paris Saint-Germain.
Henry had held talks with the PSG hierarchy over the possibility of joining the French club this summer. The Arsenal legend has coaching experience with Belgium and has previously managed Monaco and Montreal Impact.
The 45-year-old would have joined the staff in an effort to appease PSG’s star striker Kylian Mbappe, with whom he has a good relationship. With Lionel Messi leaving upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month and Neymar considering a move too, the importance of keeping Mbappe happy has become paramount in Paris.
But the idea of bringing in Henry to appease Mbappe appears to have fallen at the first hurdle, with Foot Mercato reporting that the Frenchman is not keen on the role. Henry reportedly wants to stay in England, where his family currently lives, and is targeting a managerial role rather than an assistant coach position.
Although Henry is reluctant to join, PSG are understood to still be pushing ahead with the appointment of Nagelsmann as their next manager. Christophe Galtier was only in charge for one season, but failure in the Champions League has once again cost a PSG manager his job.
Galtier was sacked on Tuesday just days after celebrating the Ligue 1 title. He secured the title for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons last month, but being knocked out of the Champions League in the last-16 by Bayern Munich proved costly.
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Nagelsmann was in charge of that Bayern side which eased through 3-0 on aggregate, yet he was later dismissed by the German club, who then appointed Thomas Tuchel.
Nagelsmann was linked with the Chelsea and Tottenham jobs before the London clubs opted for Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou instead. The 35-year-old German is known for an extremely intense and demanding coaching style which has resulted in his departures from Bayern and RB Leipzig.
Henry’s reluctance to join the PSG project is interesting because he has previously been critical of the club. Speaking on CBS Sports in March, after their exit from the Champions League, he said: "What is the plan? What is the identity? What is the philosophy? What are you trying to achieve?
“I have said very often that there is a rift between the club and many supporters of the former PSG. They almost preferred the former Paris Saint-Germain."
Although Messi is leaving and Neymar could yet follow suit, Mbappe looks set to stay put this summer. The France striker came close to joining Real Madrid last summer before backtracking and signing a bumper new deal and he will be the undisputed star at the club next season, whoever the manager is.
