JOSE HAS HIS DAY IN COURT

JOSE MOURINHO remains under investigation by Spanish tax authorities over £2.9million of unpaid contributions despite his claims that his fiscal affairs are now in order. The Manchester United manager appeared at a private court hearing in Madrid yesterday over the tax debt accusations that cover the three years he was Real Madrid coach. When leaving court he said: ‘I didn’t reply, I didn’t argue, I paid, I signed the papers,’ indicating that an agreement had been reached. But his remarks referred to the earlier settlement that is now disputed by the Public Prosecutor. And a court spokesman said that Mourinho remained under official investigation. Mourinho added: ‘When I left Spain in 2013 I understood my

situation was all in order. Two years later they got back in touch with me, but I have paid and signed.’ Jorge Mendes’s Gestifute agency that represents Mourinho issued a statement earlier this year saying: ‘Jose Mourinho paid more than €26m (£23m) in taxes, with an average tax rate over 41 per cent, and accepted the proposals made by the Spanish tax authorities in 2015 regarding the years of 2011 and 2012 and entered into a settlement agreement regarding 2013. ‘The Spanish government issued a certificate in which it attested that he had (sorted out) his position and was in compliance with all his tax obligations.’ Mourinho is accused of failing to declare income of €1.6m (£1.4m) in 2011 and €1.7m (£1.5m) in 2012 by receiving earnings from images rights. The practice is widespread and was once overlooked by the authorities in Spain, but when an investigation suggested Spain was missing out on up to €190m (£170m) of tax there was a crackdown. Other players represented by Portuguese agent Mendes have been through the same process as Mourinho. Former Real defenders Fabio Coentrao and Ricardo Carvalho, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao and Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel di Maria all had to pay money back. In July, world footballer of the year Cristiano Ronaldo gave evidence at the same Madrid court, accused of evading €14.7m (£13.1m) from 2011 to 2014. He has also shown no signs of reaching an amicable agreement with the authorities, who are deciding if his case will go to trial. Mourinho denies any wrongdoing.