With Jose Mourinho linked with an exit from AS Roma in recent days, he has now made a shock declaration about the Saudi Pro League.
It is no secret that Saudi Arabia has made a solid play in an attempt to have one of the biggest football leagues in the world, having spent heavily on luring a number of high-profile players from Europe in recent months.
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Their vision to globalise their top division has not only been limited to recruiting some of the finest players in the game as some of the best managers have also been targeted, with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane reportedly having received proposals from Saudi clubs.
AL Ettifaq's Steven Gerrard was one of the notable appointments, while former Red Bull Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle took over Al Ahli, who had been managerless since Pitso Mosimane's departure.
Former Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini also recently became one the more high-profile managers to accept a job from the country, having stepped into the Saudi Arabia national team helm.
Mourinho has also been the subject of interest from SPL clubs, and despite previous reports suggesting that he has turned down opportunities from teams in the Middle East nation in recent months, he has now seemingly had a change of heart.
The AS Roma boss, who is down to the final season of his contract in Rome and has also been linked with an early exit following a poor start to the the 2023/24 campaign, has revealed he is open to joining the Saudi Pro League.
"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. Doors are always open for me in Saudi Arabia. I want to feel the development there," he said in an interview with MBC Egypt TV channel.
"Cristiano 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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