Jose Mourinho could be set for a swift return to management after reportedly striking a "verbal agreement" following his Roma sacking.
Mourinho, who won the Conference League with the club, was given his marching orders on Tuesday after just short of three years in the Giallorossi hotseat.
His dismissal came after four defeats in Roma's last seven fixtures, with the team lying in ninth place in the table.
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His final game in charge was a 1-0 defeat to rivals Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in the Coppa Italia.
Roma legend Daniele De Rossi has been drafted in as Mourinho's replacement but the Portuguese has already been linked with a slew of jobs.
Shockingly, he has been tipped to take over under-pressure Xavi as Barcelona boss despite his Real Madrid links.
But fresh reports claim that the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs manager has a "verbal agreement" to manage in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian outlet Asharq Al-Awsat say that he is is poised to be appointed new manager of Al Shabab.
The club, currently 11th in the Saudi Pro League, are without a manager after sacking former Liverpool player Igor Biscan in late December.
It's said Mourinho had a Zoom meeting with sporting director Domenico Tite on Thursday and reached an agreement.
If he does take charge, he will be likely be given freedom to recruit big players like current stars Ever Banega and Yannick Carrasco.
Mourinho's dream job is believed to be with the Portugal national team but he did receive a mammoth £500,000-a-week proposal from Al Hilal prior to Jorge Jesus taking the job.
Mourinho called it "the biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received in the history of football" but rejected it.
However, he is on the board of directors of Saudi Arabia's Mahd Sports Academy and believes he will manage in the Middle Eastern country in the future.
He told MBC Egypt TV channel: "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. No one knows the future, but I will definitely do this [working in Saudi Arabia]."
Topics: Jose Mourinho, AS Roma, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League
Josh Lawless