Carlos Carvalhal has refused to rule out a move to the Saudi Pro League, also expressing pride for his role in Gabri Veiga's development after the young midfielder joined Al-Ahli.
Carvalhal has been out of work since leaving Celta Vigo in June, having kept the club in La Liga courtesy of a dramatic final-day win over Barcelona.
Prior to his stint in Spain, Carvalhal led Rio Ave to a club-record tally of 55 points in Portugal's Primeira Liga in 2019-20, before moving to Braga and winning the Taca de Portugal the following season.
The Portuguese coach is no stranger to the Middle East, having managed UAE Pro League outfit Al Wahda in 2022, and he would not necessarily be against a move to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian clubs have spent heavily in the transfer market this year, acquiring the likes of Karim Benzema and Neymar after the country's Public Investment Fund took control of four of the league's biggest clubs.
Though many have expressed concern about the financial power of Saudi clubs and the potential for the league to act as a "sportswashing" vehicle for the state, Carvalhal would be open to a move if presented with an attractive project.
"We never know. We never know. I have said that if the project is structured, let's see," Carvalhal told Stats Perform at the Thinking Football Summit when asked if he would manage in the league.
"It has not been a long time. If the project is to buy good players, with good coaches and also to develop youth football, if there are these kinds of projects in the future, I believe they can do something important.
"I remember China six years ago or seven years ago, they bet with very good coaches, very good players and after one moment they decided, 'no, we don't want this anymore, we are spending too much money', and they finished.
"It's over to everybody [in Saudi Arabia], let's see if this is consistent, if it will be here for 15 or 20 years.
"It is very welcome what they are doing – if it's something circumstantial. It's something that we don't know [yet]. "
Carvalhal's Celta side was built largely around the talents of Veiga, who scored twice as they upset Barcelona to clinch survival back in June.
Veiga was linked with Serie A champions Napoli before opting to join Al-Ahli, who also signed Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximin and Franck Kessie in the recent window.
Carvalhal is proud to have played a role in Veiga's development, highlighting the way his move brought much-needed funds to Celta.
"Gabri Veiga for Celta Vigo in the B team was like a striker, then we decided to put him in the second midfielder [role] because the way that he plays there, he can score goals and give assists," he said.
"It was a big challenge for him because he started as a striker and after with us, we played with two midfielders, and he was one of the midfielders.
"He has improved to another level in this kind of position, with the goals and breaking lines.
"Of course, when he finished the season and we saw that big clubs wanted him, he moved to Saudi Arabia as an option.
"Big money came into the club, of course. We are very proud and very satisfied about everything."
Celta have four points from five matches under Carvalhal's successor Rafael Benitez, who has become the first coach in the club's history to lose his first three home league games at the helm.
Leeds keep pressure on Championship pacesetters with win over Swansea
Leeds maintained their pursuit of the Sky Bet Championship’s top two with a 3-1 win against Swansea at Elland Road.
In a breathless start, Leeds had already had a goal disallowed when Jamie Paterson gave Swansea a first-minute lead, but Daniel Farke’s side hit back to level through Joel Piroe against his former club three minutes later.
Georginio Rutter fired Leeds ahead in first-half stoppage time and former Swan Dan James added their third just after the hour-mark.
Leeds leapfrogged West Brom back into third place by extending their unbeaten home record this season to nine matches and have now won seven of their last nine.
After a minute’s applause before kick-off for Terry Venables, who died on Sunday aged 80, the game exploded into action.
Leeds were celebrating inside the opening minute when James converted Rutter’s cross, but the Wales forward was ruled offside and seconds later Swansea scored.
Leeds skipper Pascal Struijk made a hash of his header back to Illan Meslier following Josh Key’s long punt forward and Paterson stole in to clip a brilliant finish over the stranded Leeds goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
The home side’s response was immediate. Crysencio Summerville played a neat one-two with Glen Kamara and threaded a killer pass through for Piroe to side-foot into the bottom corner.
It was the Dutchman’s ninth goal in total this season, two of them scored for Swansea in the League Cup in August before his switch to Elland Road later that month.
Leeds fans sang a pre-planned tribute to their former number 11 Gary Speed in the 11th minute – the 12th anniversary of his death was on Monday – before their side’s appeals for a penalty when Sam Byram’s cross struck Key were waved away.
Summerville’s goalbound shot was saved by Swansea goalkeeper Carl Rushworth’s legs and the impressive forward was then denied by Jay Fulton’s last-ditch block as Leeds chased a second.
That came in first-half stoppage-time. Rutter raced on to Ethan Ampadu’s raking ball down the middle, held off Bashir Humphreys after a brilliant first touch and buried a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Summerville blazed over early in the second period as Leeds looked to extend their advantage and the third goal came in the 61st minute.
James ran on to Rutter’s deft pass inside the area after Byram’s thumping tackle and smashed home his fifth league goal of the season.
Patrick Bamford was a whisker away from adding a fourth from Summerville’s cutback and fellow substitute Jaidon Anthony headed just over in time added on.
Kyle Walker-Peters gives Southampton victory over Bristol City
Kyle Walker-Peters’ stunning strike sent promotion-chasing Southampton to a 1-0 victory over Bristol City and extended their unbeaten Sky Bet Championship run to 10 matches.
Right-back Walker-Peters rifled in the winner from the edge of the box just after half-time.
It condemned Robins boss Liam Manning to his first defeat since replacing Nigel Pearson and saw Saints keep their first home clean sheet since March 4 – thanks partly to two stunning pieces of keeping from Gavin Bazunu.
Southampton spent the majority of the first half attempting to break down two well-disciplined banks of City players.
But found a few moments to warm a heavy-coat-clad St Mary’s crowd.
Kamaldeen Sulemana was the biggest threat with his burst of pace down the left but his finish in the seventh minute lacked the ferocity to beat goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
Top scorer Adam Armstrong had a shot blocked before curling over, while Tommy Conway headed over when unmarked at a corner at the other end.
The first time O’Leary was tested wasn’t until the 28th minute when Stuart Armstrong skidded a powerful shot at him. The initial effort was fumbled but the keeper quickly gathered.
City, who had mainly threatened on the break, had the best two chances of the first half but found Bazunu at his best in the Saints goal.
Firstly, the Ireland keeper brilliantly clawed Mark Sykes’ close-range header off the line before quickly coming off his line and diving at the feet of Conway in a one-versus-one.
Che Adams sliced a shot wide for the misfiring hosts but the fans saved their half-time ire for referee Keith Stroud having felt unfavoured by his decisions.
Saints have gathered a reputation of being slow after the interval but bucked that trend by scoring 109 seconds into the second half.
Adam Armstrong looked like he had run down a cul-de-sac but wriggled back down the right side of the box to find Walker-Peters. The right-back took the ball inside before curling into the top corner with his left foot for his second goal of the season.
Saints pushed for a second. Adam Armstrong bullied his way to a chance in the City box before Carlos Alcaraz bent wide in the 59th minute.
The same two attackers caused issues again seven minutes later, with O’Leary twice getting down low to keep his side in the match.
City thought they should have been awarded a penalty late on but Stroud disagreed that Taylor Harwood-Bellis had handled when sliding to block a cross.
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United are conceding too many goals but refused to blame Andre Onana despite the goalkeeper’s errors at Galatasaray severely damaging their chances of Champions League progression.
Having lost three of four Group A games, Wednesday’s key clash in Istanbul began in dream fashion as Alejandro Garnacho’s early effort was followed up by a Bruno Fernandes rocket.
Hakim Ziyech pulled one back from a free-kick that Onana will be disappointed to have been beaten by and he was guilty of an even worse error after Scott McTominay scored United’s third.
The summer signing somehow failed to deal with another Ziyech free-kick and substitute Kerem Akturkoglu soon lasered past him as a mad match ended 3-3.
The result leaves United bottom of their pool heading into the final round of fixtures, with the concession of 14 goals in just five Group A games the key issue.
“We scored also quickly after each other,” United manager Ten Hag said.
“It’s about the point when you are leading, when you are 2-0 up and you have to manage the game. Not so easy.
“We give free-kicks away and we have to defend them better twice. I have to say also that is Hakim. He is brilliant, I know that. He is extraordinary.
“To give free-kicks, it’s difficult to defend as well. In such areas, we have to be in more control.
“It is always about incidents, always about details and some incidents we can manage better.
“As a team, we have to learn from it because we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary and avoidable.
“I am sure our team is experienced enough and capable enough to manage this and we will do better.
“What is enjoyable is the progress we have and the way we play football. We dictated the game, we scored so many goals – it was about plan, creativity, being proactive and brave. That makes me happy.”
United should have scored more but Onana will be under the spotlight after this draw, having also been guilty of errors in the losses away to Bayern Munich and at home to Galatasaray.
While his key stoppage-time penalty save secured a win against Copenhagen, he endured another difficult Champions League night on Wednesday.
“I think as a team we played very well,” Ten Hag said when asked about Onana. “We win and lose together. You see the progress in this team.
“I take many positives from this game. Some mistakes. We played like I want my team to play.
“It was enjoyable to watch that proactive, dynamic, brave and we scored great goals.
“Even after we had some setbacks, we kept going until the end and we should have won with big chances from Scott McTominay and (Facundo) Pellistri.
“Of course, I am disappointed because we should have managed the game better, we will learn from that. Because this team is in development.”
Asked how Onana is, he said: “He is OK. As I said, it is not about individuals.
“Of course, individual errors in football can make a difference and you take responsibility for it but it is always about the team.
“This team is good, all the players in the squad are good and deserve the best to play for Manchester United because they are brilliant players.
“And that counts for the whole squad.”
United are now sweating on their place in Europe, let alone the Champions League, heading into their group finale against already-qualified Bayern at Old Trafford.
“It would be more frustrating if we play poor,” Ten Hag said.
“But the performance is very good, it is enjoyable to watch how we dictate the game, how we create chances, that is actually fantastic.
“But now there is more, if you can sort better the management of the game out then you start playing football.
“The football is good, the performances are good but now we have to learn better how to manage this game.”
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