Paolo di Canio rejected the opportunity to join Roberto Mancini’s coaching team withing the Saudi Arabia national team after being approached by his fellow Italian.

Mancini resigned as Italy head coach at the start of August following a difficult run of form and reports of his relationship deteriorating with the nation’s federation before taking up his current position in the Middle East at the end of the month.

The former Premier League title-winning coach is tasked with transforming Saudi Arabia’s national team into a side capable of going deeper into major tournaments and Mancini called on Di Canio to help him achieve that aim.

The 55-year-old would have been following a host of players and managers departing for Saudi Arabia given the riches on offer, but Di Canio revealed to La Stampa that he didn’t want to entertain a move.

Paolo di Canio rejected the opportunity to join the coaching team at Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini approached Di Canio over becoming his assistant

Mancini wanted to hire Di Canio as his assistant manager, and although delighted at having been considered, the Italian decided to ‘follow his heart’.

‘I didn’t just say no to oil money, because it would have been an important experience in an environment that wants to grow and establish itself, like I do myself,’ said Di Canio.

‘Roberto Mancini didn’t offer me a minor role, he wanted me as a second coach on the pitch to train and improve the players.

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Di Canio hasn’t been in the dugout since leaving his post at Sunderland as decade ago

Mancini is without a win in his first three matches in charge of Saudi Arabia

‘His courtship made me proud, especially given that we aren’t particularly close: a few games of Padel, a chat and not a lot more, so if he thought about me, it’s because he believes in my ideas and my work.’

‘I want to thank him, it wasn’t easy to decide, I contemplated it for a long time, and in the end I chose to follow my heart.’ 

Mancini’s Saudi Arabia have only won of his first three games with the former European Championship winner in charge, however they drew with Nigeria in his first match.

Defeats against South Korea and Costa Rica have since followed with upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Pakistan and Jordan scheduled for the end of November.