Jose Mourinho has turned down an offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab following his dismissal from AS Roma last week.
The 60-year-old coach has been out of work since Roma fired him on Tuesday, having won just one win in his last five matches. Al-Shabab and Mourinho were reportedly in advanced negotiations over the weekend over a move to Saudi Arabia. Cope Radio reports, however, that Mourinho is “waiting for an option that motivates him” and has chosen not to join the club at the moment.
Heading to Naples?
“I will go to Saudi Arabia in my free time, but I am convinced that I will work there. I don’t know when, but I’m pretty sure. The doors are always open for me in Saudi Arabia. I want to feel the development there,” however declared the Portuguese in an interview in October.
“Cristiano was the first to go there and immediately give a different perspective. The players initially thought it was a one-man show, but they realized over the summer that everything was changing. A lot of players, not only at the end of their career, but also in the best years of their career, come because the competition is real, not only in the league, but also in the AFC Champions League, which is very interesting.“
Last weekend, Mourinho was spotted in Barcelona, but he did not reveal the reasons for his visit to Spain. According to the Times, the Portuguese manager is set to join Serie A and take Walter Mazzarri’s job at the helm of Napoli. Later in the week, Mourinho is expected to meet Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. However, with the Campania club playing in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Inter on Monday, a victory for the Partenopei would likely mean Mazzarri would remain in his post at least until the end of the season.
