Jose Mourinho already convinced by ex-Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo on next job

Jose Mourinho has emerged as a candidate to be the permanent Al-Ittihad manager, with ex-Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo apparently persuading his former Real Madrid boss to join him in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January after leaving United in December 2022 and has since witnessed a huge overhaul of players and managers also heading to the Middle East. Now, with former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo the latest manager to depart, Mourinho has been linked with the vacant job left by the 49-year-old.

Mourinho, who is currently in charge at Roma, said he received a "crazy offer" to manage Al Hilal - who currently boasts Brazilian star Neymar amongst their ranks - earlier this year. But it is the vacant managerial position at Al-Ittihad that is now said to be the most promising proposition.

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Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho all signed for Al-Ittihad in the summer, but things haven't gone to plan so far for the reigning Saudi champions and they currently trail league leaders Al-Hilal by 11 points after 12 games played. Speaking in September former Old Trafford boss Mourinho revealed: "During the holidays, I received the biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received in the history of football.

"And I turned it down. I did so because I'd given my word to my players, I'd given my word to the fans and I'd given my word to the club owner."

However, the Portuguese has subsequently given an interview with MBC Egypt TV channel – which is owned by Saudi MBC Group – in which he outlined his desire to