Luis Enrique's links with the Manchester United job might be thwarted by Real Madrid example

Various outlets have reported this week that Luis Enrique is a managerial target for Manchester United, with the Spaniard said to be Richard Arnold's number one choice to replace Ralf Rangnick in the summer.

Enrique is currently head coach of the Spanish national team but has shown his managerial qualities at club level in the past having won the treble with Barcelona in 2015.

The Spain boss has done a fine job of nurturing a team with some huge stars as well as a plethora of exciting youngsters, and so it's easy to see why he would be on the shortlist of any top club looking for a new manager.

But there is one simple reason why United should not waste their time trying to convince him to come to Old Trafford.

The World Cup takes place at the end of 2022, with Spain backed to go deep into the tournament. Enrique has previously said that managing the national team is his "dream job", so why would he leave with such an important competition on the horizon?

He was also asked by La Sexta about leaving his post when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked after United's disappointing 4-1 loss to Watford in November, replying: "Is it April Fools' Day today?"

With Enrique unlikely to abandon ship in the summer, some United fans have floated the possibility of Rangnick staying as interim until after the World Cup and then appointing Enrique once his campaign with Spain is over.

You only have to think back to a similar scenario in 2018 to know that won't work.

Julen Lopetegui was in charge of the Spanish national team, unbeaten in 20 games and ready to take his team to the World Cup which was only one week away.

News then broke that Lopetegui was set to join Real Madrid after the tournament and he had accepted their offer. By the end of