AS Roma manager José Mourinho (60) and Bologna FC head coach Thiago Motta (40) are Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi’s top choices to replace Christophe Galtier in the dugout, according to a report today from Foot Mercato. The Qatari director is reportedly on the move to find the best replacement possible for the former Nice manager, whose tenure at PSG is set to last only one season. Disappointing results and off-pitch controversy are due to cost Galtier his second year under contract with Les Parisiens.
As reported by RMC Sport on Monday, Mourinho is indeed in talks with PSG. The Champions League winner with Porto (2004) and Inter (2010) would be open to leaving Roma for PSG, as he considers that the Italian club can’t compete at a higher level to match his ambitions. Foot Mercato reports that Mourinho “regularly exchanges” with Al Khelaifi, with negotiations already underway. The Portuguese coach is said to have expressed his desire to take over Les Parisiens to the PSG supremo, along with some ideas to turn the club’s favours around.
However, Al Khelaifi reportedly has doubts on Mourinho’s character. Will he give a green light to a coach as divisive as Mourinho to lead a PSG dressing room that allegedly lacks authority? Former PSG midfielder Motta would therefore seem like a safer bet. The Italian made start in management with the PSG U19 side. Motta’s Bologna have impressed this season and are eighth in the Serie A standings. Al Khelaifi has already tried to lure the former Inter man to the PSG dugout twice – after Thomas Tuchel’s dismissal in 2020, and at the end of last season when Zinédine Zidane declined the job. Will it be third time lucky?
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
