Jose Mourinho has turned down a bumper £88m (€100m) contract to manage a club in China, according to Sky Sports
It is claimed Guangzhou Evergrande were willing to pay the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss £28m a season, with bonuses, in what is believed to be the biggest managerial offer in world football.
It is understood Mourinho had the right to choose the duration of the contract on offer.
Mourinho was pictured meeting Xu Jiayin, the billionaire chairman of the Evergrande group, in London in April when they discussed a potential move.
Despite declining the offer, the meeting with Jiayin was good-natured with Mourinho flattered by the interest.
The Portuguese, as he has repeatedly stated, wants to continue his career in European football, to coach at the top level and is aspiring to win his third Champions League and his ninth league title in different countries.
He was recently endorsed for the Juventus job by Cristiano Ronaldo but was out of the Italian club's price range and didn't feel it would have been the right opportunity anyway.
Rafa Benitez recently left Newcastle to join Dalian Yifang citing the project was just as attractive as the high salary but Mourinho does not feel the same way.
He has also rejected an offer to take charge of the China national team after Marcelo Lippi left the role.
Lippi was replaced briefly as China manager by Guangzhou boss Fabio Cannavaro before Cannavaro returned to the club, and it was in this period of uncertainty that the offer was made.
Guangzhou Evergrande have yet to comment.
huangover
352
I respect him highly now this just proves he’s not about the money and he’s a real football man.
Braddy
229
This man deserves some respect 🙌
Bertrams
228
If players like Harry maguire costs 80 million pounds then managers like Jose are priceless and deserve this.
krakki
173
he prove that football is not about money but love
Radionicse
133
Believe me, He will, one day, come back and win the League with MUFC . He is that good and once the Club is run by someone who cares and Invests, he will make the Red Flag Fly High again.
shymelly
119
Don Wenger would be proud
ready2
85
Good...i think rafa will be wasted over there too.too good for that league the pair of them. I'm a liverpool fan btw. I'd really like to see mourinho go to a club like Derby.5 yr deal small budget but build a team.
Casio
77
He may have not had the best couple of years in management but at least he still has respect for himself
Busterbe
64
Too bad rafa benitez doesn't hold himself to the same standard, still feel like Mike Ashley is a parasitic leech, destroying my club, still want boycotts and the like, but feeling betrayed by rafa and the way he abandoned us.
bahaddi97779
61
thats why he is “The Special One”
MalikAbdulAwan
54
His passion, dedication, love for football is special. He has a Greta future ahead of him. Managers like Pep, Mourinho, Sir Alex are priceless.