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Football London
Football London
Sport
Louie Chandler

Arsene Wenger to make managerial return after Arsenal legend accepts Saudi Arabia offer

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to return to management in January for a one off match between Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabia's all-stars.

The Riyadh Season Cup is up for grabs when the two sides clash and Wenger will be in charge of the team made up of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr stars.

It marks the first time that Wenger will step into the dugout since leaving his role as Arsenal manager in 2018. In the three years since, he has taken up a role as FIFA's chief of global football development.

Most notably, the 71-year-old has been at the forefront of a push to hold the World Cup every two years rather than every four as is currently traditional.

"The great international coach Arsene Wenger was signed to lead the stars of al-Hilal and al-Nasr against Paris Saint-Germain in the Riyadh Season Cup," the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh, tweeted on Sunday.

The match will also mean a reunion between Wenger and former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The announcement came just days after it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund had purchased an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle United.

The Premier League says they have a legally binding agreement that the PIF will not be interfered with by the Saudi state.

However, many have expressed doubt over this with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, the current chairman of the fund.

With the Saudi state accused of a long list of human rights abuses, the Premier League have come under fire for ratifying the deal, leading to further accusations of sport-washing.

Given the nature of the game Wenger will be participating in come the New Year, and PSG's connections with Qatar, it will be interesting to see whether the Frenchman also comes under fire.

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