Mourinho 'reaches verbal agreement' with new club just days after Roma sacking
Jose Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement to become the new manager of Al-Shabab, according to reports from Saudi Arabia.
Mourinho was sacked by Roma earlier this week, with the Giallorossi sat ninth in Serie A following a disappointing start to the season. During his time at Roma, Mourinho repeatedly spoke about the prospect of managing in the Saudi Pro League one day, having rejected the "biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received" to remain at Roma.
"During the holidays, I received the biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received in the history of football," Mourinho said back in October. "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."
The offer in question would have reportedly seen him earn £500,000-a-week to take charge of Al-Hilal, who are now managed by Jorge Jesus. Now that Mourinho is out of work, Saudi owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat is reporting that he is in line to takeover at Al-Shabab.
The report states that Mourinho held a Zoom meeting with Al-Shabab's sporting director Domenico Tite on Thursday and that an agreement was reached for him to become the club's new manager. It adds that Mourinho is 'expected to arrive' in Saudi Arabia in the coming days if the deal can be finalised.
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It is also claimed that Mourinho wants to make some big international signings in the summer. Al-Shabab currently sit 11th in the Saudi Pro League and have the likes of former Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco and ex-Sevilla playmaker Ever Banega in their ranks.
They are currently without a manager after sacking ex-Liverpool star Igor Biscan last month. Mourinho has previously revealed he expects to manage in Saudi Arabia one day, telling the MBC Egypt TV channel last year: "I will go to Saudi Arabia in some free time, but I am convinced that I will work there.
Mourinho was sacked by AS Roma earlier this week (Ivan Romano/Getty Images)"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 is also on the board of directors of Saudi Arabia's Mahd Sports Academy.
"Doors are always open for me in Saudi Arabia. I want to feel the development there," he continued. "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."
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