Jose Mourinho has held shock talks to replace Fabio Cannavaro as manager of Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande.
Mourinho, who left Manchester United in December, is reportedly in talks with China's richest man, Hui Ka Yan, over potentially taking charge of the CSL's most dominant side - as well as potentially the national team.
According to the Telegraph, Hui, also known as Xu Jiayin - chairman of the Evergrande Group, one of China’s biggest property companies - and worth a cool £33bn, met with Mourinho over Chinese New Year and is determined to recruit the two-time Champions League winner.
Mourinho has been determined to return to management this summer, but has seen a number of potential avenues back into the game come and go.
Hui has plowed millions on not just his side, but also developing the standard of Chinese football, with the Chinese government desperate for the country to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Earlier this week, Mourinho hinted that he is preparing to start a new job in the coming weeks.
The ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid chief, who had given himself a deadline of July to have a new job fixed up, told Sky Italia: “In the future? Always soccer, and always a high level.
"Italy? Could be a possibility."
The question is whether he sees China as a high-enough level, and while in 2016 he declared he was nowhere near ready to work in the Far East, he has seen a number of potential routes back into the game at Europe's biggest clubs close in recent months.
Mourinho was linked with the job at Juventus before Maurizio Sarri replaced Max Allegri - although that was always a non-starter owing to his relationship with the Bianconeri's fans, following his time at Inter Milan.
Inter would have been of interest, but the Nerazzurri instead turned to Antonio Conte as they look to put together a title challenge in 2019-20, while Paris Saint-Germain elected to hand Thomas Tuchel a new deal amid suggestions he could be replaced by the 56-year-old.
Another place mooted, Bayern Munich, also came and went when club chiefs elected to keep faith with current boss Niko Kovac.
