Jose Mourinho remains under investigation in £2.9million tax fraud case despite saying ‘case is closed’
Manchester United manager appeared at court in Madrid early Friday and left after a brief hearing
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JOSE MOURINHO is still under investigation in a £2.9million tax fraud case - despite insisting the case was "closed" as he left a Madrid court today.
The Manchester United manager always denied any wrongdoing and spoke to reporters after a brief hearing in the Spanish capital.
Mourinho, who it was originally believed paid the disputed amount in full, said: "I was told that my tax situation was completely legal.
"A few years later I was told that there was an investigation opened and they told me that to regularise my situation I had to pay sum X.
"I did not answer, I did not argue, I have paid and signed with the state that I am definitely in compliance and the case is closed.
"That is why I am here, nothing else."
However, a court source said after Mourinho's appearance that a criminal investigation is still ongoing.
He said: "The judicial investigation continues. Mr Mourinho only answered the questions of his lawyer during his court quiz and not those of the other lawyers present, including the state prosecutor.
"The investigation will carry on and therefore Mr Mourinho remains under investigation."
Prosecutors at Spain's Hacienda tax authority had accused Mourinho of using companies in Ireland, New Zealand and the British Virgin Islands to hide image rights income relating to his time as Real Madrid manager.
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Mourinho's representatives, Gestifute Media, said the manager had paid more than £23m at an average rate of more than 41 per cent while living in Spain from June 2010 until May 2013.
In 2015, Gestifute said Mourinho accepted a settlement agreement regarding previous years.
However, Spanish site AS claim Mourinho will still have to go to trial despite his comments made when leaving court today.
The court date could not have come at a worse time for the Portuguese, with his United side facing Chelsea on Sunday.
His pre-match press conference - which usually takes place on a Friday - was brought forward to Thursday.
Mourinho appeared in the same building where Cristiano Ronaldo testified in his tax fraud hearing on July 31.
n the month before, the Portuguese pair's agent Jorge Mendes spoke in front of the judge hearing a similar case involving Radamel Falcao.
Mourinho gave no comment on his way into the court as he made his way past a pack of reporters and cameras outside the main entrance.
However, he did say yesterday that the court appearance would not be a "distraction" for himself or his players.
Mourinho, 54, said: "No, it's just a change of normal training time because I want to be there and I can't be there in the morning so I have to change the timings."
The allegations against Mourinho come after investigations into a number of footballers were brought to court.
Argentines Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria have all been punished for tax evasion.
A case against Ronaldo is ongoing. He denies any wrongdoing.
