José Mourinho has turned down an offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab to take over as their new manager, according to a reliable source. Discussions between Domenico Tite, the club's sporting director, and Jorge Mendes, Mourinho's agent, took place immediately after the Portuguese manager was dismissed by AS Roma last week.
Despite Mourinho expressing his desire to manage in Saudi Arabia in the future, he has opted against joining the SPL at this time. Turning 61 on Friday, Mourinho, a 2010 Treble winner with Inter Milan, has received interest from European clubs but is taking his time to carefully consider his next move.
Having been let go from his last five managerial positions (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Roma), Mourinho faces a pivotal point in his career, and his stock has declined. Regulations prevent him from coaching another Serie A team this season, eliminating the possibility of managing a club like Napoli until the next campaign.
While Mourinho has voiced a preference for staying in Europe, he is committed to choosing the right project. Al Shabab, currently 11th in the Saudi Pro League, are eager to replace their struggling manager Igor Biscan after winning only five of 19 league games this season, but Mourinho's decision leaves them searching for an alternative candidate to steer the club forward.
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