Jorge Sampaoli Says Chile FA Holding Him Hostage Amid Chelsea Rumours

Jorge Sampaoli says he does not want to continue as Chile manager any more as rumours continue to circulate linking him with the Chelsea job.

The 55-year-old led the Chilean national team to Copa America glory back in the summer. He has been widely linked with the Stamford Bridge job following Jose Mourinho's recent sacking and Guus Hiddink's subsequent appointment as interim boss until the end of the season, per MailOnline's Simon Jones.

Sergio Jadue, former president of Football Federation of Chile (ANFP), resigned amid a corruption investigation in November and, as a result, Sampaoli now says he feels he is being held hostage by new president Arturo Salah, per La Tercera (via CNN Sport's Matias Grez):

"In this environment I don't want to work, or even live, in the country anymore. I thought Salah understood and would let me leave. I was surprised at his decision to hold me hostage against my will. I am frankly disappointed and in these conditions I cannot continue coaching when my mind is elsewhere."

Per beIN Sports, Salah recently revealed his intention to retain Sampaoli until the manager's contract with Chile expires in 2018.

However, it is abundantly clear that the Argentine no longer wishes to stay in the job, despite overseeing an impressive 2014 World Cup campaign before the high point of 2015's Copa America glory.

Indeed, so impressive has he been at Chile's helm that he has been nominated alongside Barcelona's Luis Enrique and Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola for FIFA's Coach of the Year Award.

Despite Enrique leading Barca to a treble in 2015, Squawka's Euan McTear believes Sampaoli is more worthy of the award:

He certainly has a good case and it is unsurprising that he should be linked with the Blues job.

Given that his position with Chile is now surely untenable despite Salah intentions, Sampaoli could well be a Premier League manager next season.