Reports suggest that Jose Mourinho’s representative has confirmed the 60-year-old’s willingness to consider the managerial position at Al-Shabab, but with specific conditions attached.
Talks between Mourinho and Al Shabab are said to be in progress, as revealed by the Spanish publication AS. Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in securing Mourinho’s services for some time.
Sources indicate that Mourinho turned down offers last summer due to commitments made to players, but he expressed an openness to potentially returning to the Saudi Pro League in the future.
Jorge Mendes, Mourinho’s representative, has reportedly conveyed that the manager is willing to join Al-Shabab, contingent on the team acquiring “star names,” as disclosed by sports reporter Turki Alghamdi through Daily Post.
However, Mourinho is not short on alternative options. Apart from Al-Shabab, he is reportedly keen on joining Napoli, and there are plans for a return to the Premier League, with Newcastle showing interest in replacing Eddie Howe.
European teams have also expressed early interest in Mourinho, per ESPN, raising the possibility that he might opt against a move to Saudi Arabia. Despite this, if an agreement with Al-Shabab materializes promptly, Mourinho could find himself managing the team in their debut match against AS Roma in Riyadh in a friendly encounter.
Mourinho’s recent departure from Roma, where he had the lowest win rate of his career, has not diminished his appeal. Notably, he guided Roma to their first trophy in 14 years by winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in his debut season.
Although they fell short in the Europa League final against Sevilla the following year, Mourinho’s track record of winning championships remains intact.
The complex dynamics surrounding Mourinho’s potential move to Al-Shabab, along with competing offers and the prospect of a return to European football, add intrigue to the unfolding narrative of the manager’s next career move. As negotiations progress, the football world watches with anticipation to see which path Mourinho ultimately chooses for the next chapter of his illustrious managerial career.
