Just weeks after resigning from the Italy role, Roberto Mancini is set to be announced as the new coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, earning €25m net per year.
The Saudi authorities have called a press conference in a hotel for Monday at 15.00 UK time (14.00 GMT).
He is expected to sign a four-year contract to 2027, which according to La Gazzetta dello Sport will earn him circa €25m per year with no taxes.
Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Cup in January 2027, a tournament they have not won since 1996.
The CT sensationally quit the Azzurri on August 13, which in turn was just nine days after he had been named co-ordinator of the Italy Under-21 and Under-20 teams too.
Although he insisted that the offer from Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with his decision, there have been reports on Sportitalia that negotiations started over a month ago.
His debut will be in England, when the Green Falcons face Costa Rica in a friendly at Newcastle’s St. James Park on September 8, then the same venue against South Korea on September 12.
Mancini was replaced on the Italy bench by Luciano Spalletti.
Mancini is a Legend and I loved him as a player and a coach. His leaving for Saudi is the new normal unfortunately. Who knows maybe this Saudi Football bubble will burst like the Chinese League did in recent years? Good luck to Mancio and the Saudis but I will say they have no place in European football competition.