Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reveals admiration for former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique

Wenger will end his 22-year reign at the Emirates at the end of the current season

Arsene Wenger has said he has a “high opinion” of the former Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique, who is one of the favourites to take over at Arsenal in the summer.

Wenger will end his 22-year reign at the Emirates at the end of the current season, after making a surprise announcement last week.

Enrique was immediately instated as one of the favourites to takeover and ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Wenger admitted he was a fan of the Spaniard.

“I don't want to influence the next manager, but of course I have a high opinion of Luis Enrique,” Wenger said.

Wenger, who revealed Sir Alex Ferguson called him on Tuesday, added: “Is there a perfect goodbye? I don't know. I just want to do as well as I can.

“This group of players deserve something special and I want to do it for them, to achieve something with them. My biggest satisfaction would be to be successful with the players we have."