Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Mourinho: I paid my £3m tax .. It’s over
But Spanish court says probe goes on Unmissable every Friday... ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS VERY BEST
JOSE Mourinho yesterday denied tax evasion in Spain and insisted he has paid an alleged bill of £2.95million.
The Manchester United boss – just 48 hours before tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Chelsea – faced a court in Madrid.
And the 58-year-old said after the private five-minute appearance: “It’s simple. I left Spain in 2013 with the information and conviction that my situation with the tax authorities was perfectly legal. A couple of years later, I was told that they opened an investigation and they told me that in order to normalise my situation I had to pay X.
“I paid and I signed with the state that I’m in compliance and that the case is closed.”
But a court spokesman claimed after the hearing that the investigation “continues”.
He added: “Mr Mourinho only answered the questions of his lawyer and not those of the other lawyers present, including the state prosecutor.” A judge must decide whether to close the case or take it to trial.
The probe relates to image rights when Mr Mourinho was coach at Real Madrid and is alleged to have not declared taxable income.
Spanish courts have cracked down on supposed tax evasion – said to amount to £180million – among football figures, targeting names such as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.