Julian Lawrence | ESPNReading: 4 min.
Christophe Galiter in police custody in France
PSG’s still coach is part of an investigation into racist comments he made while coaching Nice in Ligue 1. His continuation at Paris Saint-Germain is still up in the air.
Luis Enrique will be appointed as the new head coach Paris Saint-Germain and Christophe Galtier’s departures will be announced immediately, ESPN reported on Tuesday.
ESPN initially reported on June 6 that PSG sporting director Luis Campos had informed Galtier that he would be fired, and the two sides had held talks over the past few weeks about terminating the coach’s contract.
Galtier was summoned to a criminal court on December 15 as part of an investigation into allegations of racism at his former club Nice, the first step towards a possible full trial.
PSG are expected to introduce Luis Enrique as the club’s new manager at a press conference on Wednesday, sources told ESPN.
Sources told ESPN that PSG reached a full contract agreement with Luis Enrique earlier this week and began working on squad, recruitment and preparation. However, the French club waited until the contract agreement with Galtier was finalized before making the announcement of the new manager publicly.
The former Spain and Barcelona manager had expressed his interest in managing the Premier League earlier this year. He has been out of work since leaving Spain after their 2022 World Cup exit.
He won the Champions League, the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey in his first season at Barcelona. He went on to win LaLiga twice more and the Copa del Rey.
Galtier and his son Jan Valovic-Galtier were remanded in custody for questioning last Friday over allegations of racism and anti-Muslim comments while in charge of Nice from 2021-2022.
After her son was released without charge, Galtier was referred to the prosecutor’s office and will stand trial on charges of psychological abuse and discrimination.
Galtier has denied allegations that he made racist and anti-Muslim comments while in charge of Nice when the scandal broke earlier this year.
If convicted, Galtier faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($49,000).
Galtier succeeded Mauricio Pochettino as PSG boss last summer, leading the club to the 2022-23 Ligue 1 title but missing out on the European success the club craves.
PSG were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich, their second exit from that stage of the competition.
ESPN reported on June 4 that former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann had opened talks with PSG to replace Galtier, but those talks soon broke down.
