Mourinho rejects record salary to stay at Roma

Italy Jose Mourinho turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia with the highest salary among football coaches to continue leading AS Roma.

Mourinho has received many offers from clubs in the Saudi Pro League. According to Sky Sports on June 29, Al Hilal went the furthest, offering a two-year contract with a salary of 33 million USD per year.

That's four times what Mourinho earned at Roma, and the highest salary in the world for a football coach. Diego Simeone currently earns $37.8 million a year at Atletico Madrid, but is taxed at 47% in Spain, so his net take-home pay is just $17.8 million. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, doesn't impose personal income tax, and the $33 million Al Hilal is offering is also net take-home pay.

However, according to Italian media, Mourinho refused because he wanted to complete the final year of his contract with Roma.

Mourinho leads Roma in the Europa League final on May 31. Photo: Reuters — Mourinho leads Roma in the Europa League final on May 31. Photo: *Reuters*

Mourinho has led Roma since the summer of 2021. His current salary, $8.25 million per year, is nearly four million lower than his income at his former club Tottenham.

Mourinho helped Roma win the 2021-2022 Conference League, the maroon team's first title in European competition. Last season, Roma reached the Europa League final, but lost 1-4 on penalties to Sevilla. Mourinho also helped Roma finish sixth in Serie A twice.

Mourinho has been banned from the first four group stage games of next season's Europa League. UEFA fined him for his abusive behaviour towards referee Anthony Taylor after the Europa League final. Mourinho claimed Taylor favoured Sevilla. He also insisted Roma deserved a penalty after Fernando handled the ball in the box.

Saudi Arabian clubs are scrambling to attract high-profile players and coaches. Al Nassr and Al Ittihad both offered Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema $200 million a year. Al Ittihad offered another new signing, N'Golo Kante, $100 million a year. Al Hilal have just signed Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly, while Al Ahli have signed Edouard Mendy.

Al Hilal finished third in the 2022-2023 Saudi Pro League, behind Al Ittihad and Al Nassr. They are the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, holding three records of winning 18 Saudi Pro Leagues, 10 King's Cups and four AFC Champions Leagues.

Mourinho is one of the most successful coaches in football history. The 60-year-old has 26 titles to his name. He has won two Portuguese championships, three Premier Leagues, two Serie A, one La Liga, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Cups/Europa Leagues and one Conference League.

Thanh Quy (according to Sky Sports )

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