JORGE SAMPAOLI HAS confirmed he no longer wants to be Chile coach, but the exit clause in his contract appears set to delay the matter.
The Argentinian has struggled to explain his situation and earlier on Wednesday denied wanting to leave Chile.
In an interview with Fox Sports, Sampaoli — who has been linked with Brazilian and European clubs including Chelsea — said he was set to depart his role.
“It appears that I will not be Chilean coach anymore,” he said.
“I hope I can persuade (Football Federation of Chile president Arturo) Salah so he can understand my point.
“It is impossible for me to pay the clause.”
Sampaoli’s exit clause is reportedly $6.3million and the 55-year-old Copa America-winning coach said he just wanted to move on.
Salah and Sampaoli are set to meet on Thursday, but the latter said he had already explained his position.
“I have explained Salah that the conditions are not suitable for me to stay as Chilean coach,” Sampaoli said.
Might win something there
@John O Reilly: who is she
Extremely tough choice for any young player. A big loss for Mayo and Football in general. Massive opportunity for him though. Very best of luck to him.
@Cian Nolan: I don’t think it’s that tough a choice. It’s a chance to play professional sport that he may never get a chance to do again. Also great chance to experience living in another country, best time to do it is when you’re young and have less commitments back home. If it doesn’t work out or doesn’t enjoy it he can always come home and come back into the Mayo set up at any time.
@DK: Agree. The only thing that makes it tough is living in the other side of the world away from family but financially it’s a no brainer. Irish AFL rookies get $80k a year (about €50k), 3 free flights home a year, free car and free rent. If they don’t make it they come home with enough money for a deposit for a house and got to play pro sport in Australia and can slip right back into playing high level GAA. If they do make it they earn a salary similar to pro rugby players 200-300k per year. Be mad not to go
@Phil Redmond: you’re right and you’ve me sold Philo. You’ve hardly got a phone number there for one of the clubs do you, preferably Eagles, Dockers, Brisbane or Gold Coast (nicer weather). I’ll give them a shout and see how they’d fancy a lad with a stylish blue knee patch, great under the high ball taking marks and that. Can handle myself around the small ‘parallelogram’ and beyond. Slightly getting on in years. Rare opportunity for them to pick up a gem of the Junior football division. Will need to be kept away from the drink if required to train and play, though only trains well and plays well if I’ve had a drink. I’m well bred, brother played county, which I could’ve also and legend has it, would’ve been better if it wasn’t for the knee and the drink.
@This time its personable!: It sounds like your clubs junior 3 team wouldnt be willing to let you go easily :-)
A massive loss to Mayo. Wishing him all the best
Arguably the best up and coming player in the country. A huge loss to Mayo.
Best of luck young man,great player…
He’ll have to put up with the GAA hassling him now, they’ll be sending priests and gards up to the house to try talk him out of it. “Would ya not stay here and play and train the same as professionals but with no pay, in the most expensive to live in country in Europe?”
Class player. Huge loss.
No brainer, enjoy the experience.
@Fr Romeo sensini.: yes too good to turn down
Great opportunity for him , all the best of luck to him
You cannot blame him really. Some of those players who done so well took so much crap from the people of Mayo after the loss to Tyrone its no wonder he is moving half way around the world to play his Football. He can get some sun and make a few bob too. Good on him , look at Orla O’Dwyer she is ripping it up and making some good money too.
@Gary O’Rourke: that’s a joke right? I saw more abuse from journalists towards mayo players than I did from mayo fans to players! And if there’s one player that definitely didn’t get abuse it’s Oisin Mullen!
Mayo should have been doing all the could like Tyrone done with Mcshane to get this lad to stay. Can’t blame him for wanting to go though
@mel roberts: its forwards we need mel. Big loss but we usually dont have a problem finding backs
@Kieran Doherty: he’s class. Regardless of the quality we have at the back, he makes the team better. Big loss
Does anyone know the success rate of code switchers? It would be an interesting one to see how many make AFL appearances. If it’s lower than expected, would there be scope for introducing an Aussie Rules youth league in key Football counties to run on opposite season times to Football? The intricacies of the sport might be less alien then for those lucky enough to get a pro sport contract. Just a short 2-3 month season like Rugby 7s and Rugby League in Ireland is to work around Rugby Union.
@SomeGuy: that’s tricky that, what is success to you? Is successful being winning a Brownlow Medal or Grand Final. Then that’s easy, two were successful. I’ve high standards me like.
@This time its personable!: We’re not talking about you.
@Paddy Waggon: I was joking, to be fair there have been many over the years, Stynes, Kennelly, Clarke, Touhy, Hanley, Begley, Setanta, McKenna and O’Connor, they would be the top off my head but it’s some achievement to go over there in the first place and then to actually make it to play in the AFL, that’s something to be proud of for sure. There’s been so many others who’ve gone played a few games and came back due to various reasons and would still have great respect for them, doing something like that, at such a young age and so far from home, not an easy task so I’d think going there in the first place means they’re a success, the rest is just the icing, cherries and all the rest to add to the cake.