Jose Mourinho confirms plan to take Saudi job with Roma boss a game from sack
Roma boss Jose Mourinho says he is "convinced" he will work in Saudi Arabia one day amid suggestions his time at the Stadio Olimpico could be up soon.
Mourinho is into his third season at Roma and reports from Italy have claimed he will be sacked if his side lose to last placed Cagliari on Sunday following a disappointing start to the new campaign. The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid manager has previously admitted he turned down the "biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received", which would have reportedly seen him earn £500,000-a-week to manage Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
"During the holidays, I received the biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received in the history of football," Mourinho said earlier this month. "And I turned it down. I did so because I'd given my word to my players, I'd given my word to the fans and I'd given my word to the club owner."
However, he has now admitted he does expect to manage in Saudi Arabia at some point in the future. "I will go to Saudi Arabia in some free time, but I am convinced that I will work there," he said in an interview with the MBC Egypt TV channel, which is owned by Saudi MBC Group.
"I don't know when, but I am pretty sure of it. No one knows the future, but I will definitely do this [working in Saudi Arabia]." Mourinho joined the board of directors of Saudi Arabia's Mahd Sports Academy earlier this year.
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"Doors are always open for me in Saudi Arabia. I want to feel the development there," Mourinho added. "Cristiano (Ronaldo) 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."
Mourinho plans to manage in Saudi Arabia one day, having previously rejected the "biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received" to leave Roma (Domenico Cippitelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Mourinho's Roma currently 13th in Serie A, having won just two of their seven league games so far this season. They have won their last two games though, beating Frosinone 2-0 before putting four past Servette in the Europa League, but a 4-1 loss to Genoa last week prompted Mourinho to strongly defend his record.
"It's the worst start to the season in my career," he said. "But it's also the first time in Roma's history that we made two consecutive European finals. We are a team with qualities and defects.
"There is no time to cry, only internally because of my relationship with the supporters. It hurts me even more, it's not just a personal thing but a general one. Tomorrow we will go back to work. The next match is worth three points, not six, seven or eight, but it becomes very very important for us to succeed."
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