Carlo Nohra, the head of Saudi Pro League operations, has said that it would be an ‘enormous leap in quality’ if the division were able to convince Jose Mourinho to leave his position with Roma and move to the Middle East.
Mourinho has been the subject of serious interest from Saudi Arabia for a number of months and recently admitted in an interview that he would almost certainly work in the country one day.
It is believed that the Special One turned down an enormous wage packet from the SPL a few months ago in order to stay on with Roma for a third season.
Speaking at the Festival dello Sport, reported by TMW, Nohra admitted that bringing Mourinho on board would be a great coup for the league, and that Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing has been key in convincing high-profile names to give football in Saudi Arabia a chance.
“There is no doubt that the so-called ‘Ronaldo effect’ was exceptional for us,” Nohra said. “It changed everything in terms of visibility, relevance and television contracts.
“I can’t say that Mourinho will be the next big shot, but it’s obvious that his eventual arrival would represent another enormous leap in quality in many respects.”