Italy has confirmed his commitment to Roma until the end of his current contract, but coach Jose Mourinho still wants to move to work in the Saudi Arabian championship in the near future.
"I am focused on Roma and I will give my all until my last day here," Mourinho told the Arabic program El Hekaya on October 7. "Nobody knows the future, but I am convinced that one day I will coach in Saudi Arabia. I don't know when, but I am pretty sure it will happen."
According to Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr has created a different perspective on football in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Pro League. The "Special One" affirmed that the door to Saudi Arabia is always open and he wants to feel the development of football here.
"Many players, not only at the end of their careers, but also some players who are in the best years of their careers, will come to this Middle Eastern country because the competition, not only in the Saudi Pro League but also the AFC Champions League is very interesting," Mourinho commented.
Mourinho in a match leading Roma in Serie A this season. Photo: EFE
In the summer of 2023, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reported that Mourinho could receive $130 million - the highest salary in the coaching world - if he agreed to work in Saudi Arabia on a 2-year contract, with two options.
The first is leading the Saudi Arabian national team. The Portuguese coach has the right to terminate his contract after the first year and receive 65 million USD. If he continues to stay with Saudi Arabia, Mourinho will have to extend his contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup. This clause helps Saudi Arabia not to be passive in preparing for the tournament, which will be co-hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The second option for Mourinho is to work at the club level, and accordingly, he can choose Al Nassr or Al Ahli - the two most potential teams in the Saudi League. Of which, Al Nassr recruited Ronaldo - Mourinho's old student - with a season salary of 220 million USD, while Al Ahli even offered Lionel Messi double the amount, but was rejected.
Mourinho refused to go to Saudi Arabia because he wanted to complete his contract with Roma until June 2024. In his first season, the "Special One" helped Roma become the first champions of the Europa Conference League, thereby ending their title drought after 14 years, since the 2007-2008 Italian Cup. Last season, Roma finished sixth in Serie A and won the Europa League runner-up position.
Mourinho has been under pressure this season as Roma have made a poor start, winning just two of their opening seven games and currently sit 13th in Serie A. According to Corriere dello Sport , owner Dan Friedkin will sack Mourinho and appoint former Bayern and Germany coach Hansi Flick if Roma lose to Cagliari today. The source said Friedkin wanted to terminate Mourinho's contract after the 4-1 defeat to Genoa on September 28, but changed his mind after a conversation with director Tiago Pinto.
Later, the leading news agency in Italy, ANSA , quoted a source close to Rome as saying that the above information was "fake news", and that the club had not thought about firing Mourinho or had ever contacted Flick.
Mourinho has not yet worked directly in Saudi Arabia, but has been involved in a community football project in the Middle Eastern country. In July 2022, he signed a three-year contract to join the board of directors of the Saudi Mahd Sports Academy - a place to discover sports talent in general and football in particular in Saudi Arabia.
Hong Duy
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