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Jose Mourinho Wants Saudi Arabia Move

Published

1 year ago

October 7, 2023

Jose Mourinho revealed that he is open to working in Saudi Arabia in the future.

The Gulf country made offers to the Portuguese manager to move the base to Asia during the summer. However, after leading Roma to back-to-back European championships, he decided to stay with the capital club and honour his 2024-year deal.

Mourinho joined the board of directors of Mahd Academy, an institute which works to unearth emerging talents from the country in July and now admitted that he harbours a desire to manage a club in the middle east.

“I will go to Saudi Arabia in some free time, but I am convinced that I will work there. I don’t know when, but I am pretty sure of it. Doors are always open for me in Saudi Arabia. I want to feel the development there,” he said in an interview with MBC Egypt TV channel.

Mourinho believes that the exodus of players from Europe following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move in December 2022, has changed the narrative about the footballing landscape of the country.

“Cristiano was the first to go there and give a different perspective immediately. The players thought at first that it was a one-man show but they realised in the summer that everything was really changing.

“Many players, not just at the last period of their careers, but also some players at the best years of their careers, are coming because the competition is real, not just at domestic League, but also the AFC Champions League is very interesting,” he said.

Despite admitting his desire to move to Saudi, Mourinho’s short-term focus remains on Roma.

“I am committed to my work with Roma and I want to give everything to the club until the last day,” he insisted.

The team’s disappointing start to the season has left them in 13th place after just eight points in seven games. After a decisive 4-0 victory over Servette in the Europa League, they will return to Serie A action against Cagliari on Sunday with the hopes of picking up the three points.