Former Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has disclosed that he recently turned down an opportunity from Saudi Arabia. Di Canio, the former player for West Ham, Celtic, and Sheffield Wednesday, has been without a job since departing Sunderland in 2013. However, he was recently approached for a position by his compatriot Roberto Mancini. Mancini, who secured a remarkable £77 million Middle East deal to lead the Saudi Arabia national team for three years after his successful stint as the manager of the Italian national team, was the one who made the offer.
Although Mancini proposed a coaching role, Di Canio declined the offer after careful consideration. In an interview with La Stampa, Di Canio explained his decision, stating, “I didn’t reject the offer just because of the financial aspect.
It could have been a valuable experience in an environment that is looking to develop and establish itself, much like my own aspirations. Mancini didn’t propose a minor role; he wanted me to be a second coach on the field to train and enhance the players.”
Di Canio expressed his pride in being considered by Mancini, especially since they were not particularly close, having only had a few games of padel and a casual conversation. He believed that Mancini’s offer reflected a belief in his ideas and work. Di Canio concluded, “I am grateful to him for the offer, but making the decision wasn’t easy. I pondered it for a considerable amount of time, and in the end, I chose to follow my heart.”