Jose Mourinho has taken a £3.5m-a-year PAY CUT to join Roma

Jose Mourinho has taken a significant pay cut to become Roma's new manager, earning £3.5million-a-year less than he did at Tottenham.

Mourinho made a shock return to management on Tuesday with the Italian giants just weeks after being sacked by Spurs after a bitterly disappointing Premier League and Europa League campaign.

The 58-year-old former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager will take over from Paulo Fonseca at the end of the season, signing a deal in Rome until 2024.

But Mourinho has taken a drastic pay cut to return to Serie A, earning €7.5m (£6.5m) per season in the Italian capital. That is a drop of £3.5m on the £10m-a-year basic salary he earned in north London.

Roma were able to hire Mourinho because they are able to take advantage of tax breaks from the Italian Growth Decree. It means they are given a tax discount of around 30 per cent on his wages.

As part of Mourinho's contract, he will earn more money in bonuses if he can lead Roma to Italian or European glory during his time in charge.

Reports in Italy also claim Mourinho's total financial package will cost Roma around €10m (£8.6m).

But it is also reported that Spurs will continue to pay some of his salary. As part of the contract he signed with Spurs until 2023, they will pay Mourinho €9m (£7.7m), to ensure he receives the same salary he had in London.

His appointment is, however, expected to save Spurs as much as £13m in compensation. The north London club put Mourinho on gardening leave following his dismissal, essentially meaning Tottenham would continue to pay the Special One's salary every month.

After a disappointing first season under their ownership, the Friedkin family expects Mourinho to turn things around so the club is more attractive both on a global scale and to potential investors.

The owners are targeting a Serie A title within three years and will enter the transfer market this summer to give Mourinho a competitive squad. They are interested in buying a goalkeeper, a centre back and a striker this summer.

Juventus stopper Wojciech Szczesny could be available if the Turin side are able to bring in Gianluigi Donnarumma on a free.

It is thought Roma are unwilling to spend big but Mourinho and sporting director Tiago Pinto will lead the recruitment drive.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Roma were surprised by Mourinho's interest and Pinto flew to London immediately for a face-to-face meeting at the manager's home with the owners.

Initial talks were extremely positive and those involved all left aligned on a sustainable project and how the team should be constructed to deliver a trophy.

Friedkin listened to the advice of Pinto and used the charm of the Eternal City to convince the Portuguese to join. It is thought Mourinho will move to the Italian capital with his whole family.

Mourinho said he had been drawn to the Italian capital by the ambition of the club owners.

'Thank you to the Friedkin family (Roma's owners) for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,' he said.

'After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto (Roma's general manager), I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma. It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.

'The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.

'In the meantime, I wish Paulo Fonseca all the best and I hope the media appreciate that I will only speak further in due course. Daje Roma!'

It also ushers in a return to Serie A for Mourinho, who won the Treble with Inter Milan in a two-year spell at the San Siro from 2008 until 2010.