SAUDI ARABIA are using Jose Mourinho to boost their image.
The Tottenham boss sent a message to the Saudi ministry of sports on Monday after they unveiled a new football academy.
Abdullah bin Faisal Hamad, president of Mahd Sports Academy and believed to be close friend of Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho sent a message to the Saudi ministry of sports
Mourinho is believed to be a close friend of Abdulla bin Faisal Hammad, who is the brains behind the Mahd Sports Academy — which came about after Saudi Arabia were thrashed 5-0 by Russia in the 2018 World Cup.
And the Portuguese said: “I always think the beginning of big things start with very negative things.
“I think you reacted in the most beautiful way — by launching the academy and investing in infrastructure.
“I always say that a defeat is not the end of the world.
“A defeat is the beginning of a new cycle of victories. The sun will rise again.”
SunSport understands that Saudi Arabia are planning to build a headquarters for the academy in England if the £300million takeover of Newcastle goes through.
They hope it will ‘become one of the largest in the world over the next decade’ and plan to scour the UK for the best young talent, sending the cream of the crop to Newcastle.
And Mourinho was not alone in bigging up the Mahd Sports Academy, with ex-England manager Fabio Capello and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino joining the chorus.
President Infantino said: “This academy can surely be a game-changer in the country and region.
“There is no excuse, the next step is to win the World Cup!
“We count on Saudi Arabia.”
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sports is hoping to develop a UK academy
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
