Roma manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to depart the Italian giants at the end of the 2023-24 season.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur boss is in the final year of his contract with the Giallorossi, who have endured an underwhelming start to the new term.
Roma welcomed a host of notable new arrivals to the club over the summer, adding Houssem Aouar, Romelu Lukaku, Sardar Azmoun, Evan Ndicka, Rasmus Kristensen, Renato Sanches and Leandro Paredes to their ranks.
However, the Europa League runners-up have only won five of their first 10 matches of the new term across all competitions, drawing two and losing three of their opening eight Serie A games.
A total of 11 points from 24 on offer has left Mourinho's men 10th in the Serie A standings, although they sit second in Europa League Group G thanks to back-to-back wins over Sheriff Tiraspol and Servette.
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Roma's underwhelming start to the new term led to suggestions that Mourinho's job would have been in jeopardy if his side lost to Cagliari before the international break, but he oversaw a comfortable 4-1 win in that fixture two weekends ago.
Nevertheless, when questioned on the possibility of Mourinho being handed a contract extension at Stadio Olimpico, esteemed journalist Gianluca Di Marzio told Sky Italia that a renewal was off the cards, and the Portuguese would bid farewell next summer amid links with a move to Saudi Arabia.
"It won't happen," Di Marzio responded when asked about a renewal for Mourinho. "There are no negotiations ongoing, there have never been. So they'll part company at the end of the deal in June.
"Surely, once Mourinho will be free, they [Saudi clubs] will try again. It remains to be seen what Mourinho thinks about his future. Whether he wants to coach a new European club or go there [to Saudi Arabia]."
Whether Mourinho makes the switch to the Middle East as early as next year remains to be seen, but the 60-year-old believes that he will eventually manage a club in the Saudi Pro League.
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During a separate interview with elhekayashow, Mourinho hailed Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo for changing the "perspective" of the Saudi Pro League, which welcomed an influx of renowned players from European clubs this summer.
"I am focused on Roma and I will give my all until the last day I am here. Nobody knows the future, but I am convinced I will coach in Saudi Arabia one day. I don't know when, but I am quite sure it's something I'll surely do," Mourinho added.
"I think it's the Cristiano Ronaldo effect. He was the first one to go there and change the perspective. It is proved by the fact that players going there are not at the end of their careers, but in their best years. Competition is real in Saudi Arabia."
Since penning a three-year contract with Roma in 2021, Mourinho boasts a 50% win rate from his time in charge of the Giallorossi, claiming 60 victories from 120 games in addition to 27 draws and 33 defeats.
The 60-year-old led Roma to Europa Conference League glory in his first season at the helm and also steered the Italian giants to the final of the 2022-23 Europa League, where they were beaten by perennial winners Sevilla on penalties.
Ben Knapton
