Former Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella has rejected the chance to coach Saudi Arabia, the Gulf country’s FA has told Sport360.

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Sabella, 60, has been out of work since missing out on World Cup glory last summer with Argentina, who were beaten in the final by Germany.

It was widely reported earlier this month that Sabella had agreed to become the next Saudi Arabia boss but the ex-Estudiantes manager has NOT taken the post. 

“Alejandro Sabella excused himself from coaching the Saudi national team in the coming period,” Adnan Al Muaebed, the press secretary of the Saudi FA, confirmed to Sport360.

“We went through grueling negations with Sabella in order to persuade him but he declined the offer.”

Sabella has received numerous offers from the region since resigning as Albiceleste coach last summer, including one from Saudi’s Al Ittihad Club which he rejected recently.

When asked why Sabella turned down the job, his agent told Sport360: “The coach refuses to work in the Arabian Gulf.”

Sabella was named boss of UAE side Al Jazira in the summer of 2011 before performing a U-turn when the Argentina job became available soon after; he left Jazira without taking a single training session.