Flamengo have been left sweating about the future of enigmatic coach Jorge Jesus with just one month remaining on the Newcastle United target’s contract at the Copa Libertadores winners, according to A Bola.
With Brazil fast becoming a global hotspot for this dreaded illness, it seems unlikely that the Serie A campaign will be resuming any time soon.
And the financial crisis which looks certain to follow in the months ahead means that a side who were celebrating a historic double as recently as December could be hit harder than most.
The future of 65-year-old tactician Jesus was expected to be sorted by now. The former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon coach was planning to stay on until the back end of 2021, despite claims from Goal that he is under consideration to replace Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
But, with just five weeks left on his contract, A Bola reports that talks between Flamengo and Jesus have now reached ‘deadlock’.
A man who has lifted 20 trophies throughout a storied managerial career is currently the best-paid coach in Brazil. He earns £3.2 million-a-year (or £60,000-a-week), according to Platform Media.
Flamengo, as it stands, cannot afford to tie Jesus down to an extend deal on identical terms – meaning a parting of the ways next month has just become increasingly likely.
However, with Mauricio Pochettino instead taking on ‘chosen one’ status on Tyneside, anyone hoping that Jesus brings his brilliant tactical brain and forked tongue to England should not hold their breath.
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