Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has questioned how long Manchester City’s legal battle with the Premier League could take to reach its final conclusion, joking that he could be 80 years old before the verdict arrives.
The Portuguese coach made the remark while discussing the ongoing case involving City’s alleged breaches of financial regulations, following the club’s decision to appeal against an independent commission’s ruling.
Mourinho, who is now in his 60s, expressed doubt about the speed of the legal process, suggesting that successive appeals could prolong the dispute for years.
Rather than express outright frustration, the former Manchester United manager chose to approach the situation with humour during an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
“I would rather laugh about it,” Mourinho said, reflecting on the case.
He added that he believed the dispute would eventually reach a conclusion but questioned whether those following it would have to wait too long for a definitive outcome.
“There will be a verdict, then appeals, then more appeals,” he said.
The comments have renewed attention on Manchester City’s long-running financial case, which remains one of the most significant disciplinary matters in English football.
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations covering the period from the 2009/10 season to 2017/18. The club was also found guilty of three of four charges relating to failures to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and challenged the commission’s findings, maintaining that the ruling contains material errors of law, principle and fact.
The club formally lodged its appeal in October 2026, seeking to overturn the decision.
The Premier League’s allegations included claims that City used commercial agreements to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million over nearly a decade. The case concerns the club’s financial reporting and compliance with the competition’s regulations.
However, the appeal process means the case has not reached its final conclusion, and the eventual outcome remains subject to the independent appeal proceedings.
The process has attracted considerable interest because of the potential consequences for Manchester City and the wider Premier League. Possible sanctions have been widely discussed, although no final punishment should be treated as established while the appeal remains unresolved.
For Mourinho, the dispute carries an additional connection to his own managerial history.
The 63-year-old coached Manchester United between 2016 and 2018, a period during which City’s financial strength and performances under Pep Guardiola helped shape the Premier League title race.
United finished second behind City in the 2017/18 season, recording 81 points, while Guardiola’s side won the title with a record 100 points.
Mourinho has previously argued that finishing second in that campaign was a significant achievement, given the strength of Guardiola’s team.
In 2024, he jokingly suggested that he could still receive the title if City were eventually punished and the league standings were reconsidered.
His latest comments have brought that long-standing rivalry back into the conversation, although his remarks about the current case were framed around the length of the proceedings rather than a new demand for a title.
Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to compete in the Premier League as the legal process unfolds. The club’s immediate sporting objectives remain separate from the appeal, which is being handled through the league’s independent disciplinary framework.
The appeal hearing is expected to take place privately, with the process subject to confidentiality requirements. The timing and implications of the final decision remain important questions for the club, its supporters and the competition.
Mourinho’s prediction that he could be 80 before the matter is finally settled was clearly expressed as a joke, but it highlights the uncertainty surrounding a case that has already occupied years of football discussion.
For now, Manchester City must wait for the appeal process to run its course, while the football world continues to watch for a decision that could have significant implications for the Premier League.
