Au revoir: Wenger may be heading back to France
Arsene Wenger is planning to leave Arsenal when
his contract expires in 2011 to become president of Paris St
Germain, The Telegraph understands. The Frenchman, who was
appointed Arsenal manager in 1996 and has overseen one of the most
successful periods in the club's history, has already established
close links with PSG and played an influential role in their
restructuring this week.
Wenger remains desperate to claim the one major
prize that has eluded him during his time in north London, the
Champions League, but is confident of fulfilling that ambition
before bowing out of English football at the same time as his great
Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson. He would then return to
his homeland to try to restore PSG to the summit of the French
game.
The surprise appointment of Wenger's close friend
Charles Villeneuve as PSG president on Tuesday sparked intense
speculation in France, with sources close to the club convinced the
58-year-old Alsatian has set his sights on ultimately succeeding
Villeneuve in the top job.
It has been reported that Wenger urged PSG to appoint
Villeneuve last week. According to yesterday's L'Equipe, the two
are understood to be on holiday in the Italian resort of Merano.
PSG are also hoping to appoint a new director of sport, with
another Wenger contact, Tottenham's director of sport Damien
Comolli, expected to land the post.
Wenger might even be reunited with old accomplice David
Dein in Paris, after Villeneuve described the former Arsenal
vice-chairman as "a good friend" and said he would "welcome Dein
investing in the club". When asked yesterday about Wenger's future,
Dein said: "I know nothing at all about this. Of course anything is
possible. Arsene gets propositioned all the time."
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