27 November 2023 , 14:04
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Jose Mourinho is prepared to turn down the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia for a chance to manage Brazil's national team.
Mourinho, 60, remains in charge at Roma but his current contract at the Stadio Olimpico will expire at the end of this season. Speculation has already begun to mount over whether Mourinho could move on in the summer and the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham boss has made no secret of his plans to manage in Saudi in the future.
However, he could be persuaded to put those ideas on hold if the opportunity to take charge of Brazil comes his way. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with the Selecao, who are currently under the interim management of Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz.
Mourinho has already urged Ancelotti to stay put at another of his former clubs, declaring that "only a madman would leave Real Madrid when he is still wanted." But Mourinho's comments may have an ulterior motive, as report he has expressed his interest in taking up the permanent post with Brazil.
Their report adds that Mourinho feels he is now unlikely to land another job at a top European club and sees international management as his logical next step. Mourinho's stock had never been lower when Roma swooped to appoint him just weeks after his disappointing failed stint at Spurs.
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But he has restored some credibility with the job he has done in Rome, where he's guided his team to Europa Conference League success before falling just short in last season's Europa League final, losing on penalties against Sevilla. Mourinho has led Roma to successive sixth-place finishes in Serie A, though he continues to work on a smaller budget than rival clubs and Roma look unlikely to upset the established giants of the division anytime soon.
Roma are currently fifth in Serie A though Mourinho has faced some pressure after a tricky start to the season. While Mourinho rejected the advances of Saudi clubs offering lucrative wages in the summer, he may be tempted at a fresh challenge when his deal comes to an end.
Speaking just last month, he told reporters: "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. No one knows the future, but I will definitely do this [working in Saudi Arabia]."
Mourinho has also claimed he turned down the chance to manage his native Portugal ahead of the appointment of Roberto Martinez in January. "The fact that the president of the FPF said that I was not his first choice, but his only choice, makes me proud," Mourinho claimed. "But I decided not to go. I'm here and that's what matters."
But Brazil legend Carlos Alberto may have already unveiled Mourinho as Brazil's new boss back in September. "I was going to drop a bomb here, but I can't," he told the Mundo GV podcast (via Bein Sports). "Maybe [Mourinho] is the coach of the Brazilian team. I'm speaking first hand. It's information.
"It doesn't matter where the information comes from, I'm giving you the information... because he even invited me [to be his number two]."