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Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has joked that he could be 80 years old before Manchester City’s financial case reaches a final verdict, expressing disbelief at the lengthy process and the prospect of further appeals.
The Portuguese coach made the remark during an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport on Thursday, following an independent commission’s findings that City breached Premier League financial rules.
“I’d rather have a bit of a laugh about it. Being in my 60s, I’ll have to be lucky enough still to be here when the final verdict arrives. Now a ruling will come, then an appeal… I’ll be 80!” Mourinho said.
The case concerns alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018. Manchester City have challenged the findings, and the dispute remains unresolved as the appeal process continues.
The allegations include claims relating to the reporting of revenue, financial information and costs over several seasons. City have consistently denied wrongdoing, while the final outcome and any potential sanctions remain subject to the legal process.
In the same interview, Mourinho also joked about the continued presence of former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti around the club’s Valdebebas training ground.
Ancelotti, who now manages Brazil, reportedly sought permission to visit Brazilian players, including Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Endrick.
“I told Carlo Ancelotti that I’m sick of him!” Mourinho said, referring to the Italian coach’s photographs displayed around the training ground. He quickly softened the remark, describing Ancelotti as “a gentleman, a great guy”.
Mourinho also rejected suggestions that he was responsible for his frequent clashes with referees, arguing that circumstances and bad luck had contributed to the controversies surrounding him at different clubs.
The latest comments add to the debate surrounding the length of Manchester City’s financial proceedings, with football fans still awaiting a final resolution to a case that has hung over the Premier League champions for years.
