'I would rather laugh about it' - Mourinho jokes Man City verdict could take a lifetime

The Real Madrid manager was asked about the case in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport and suggested the lengthy appeals process could continue for years.

"I would rather laugh about it," Mourinho said.

"I think we will eventually get an ending, but we are both in our 60s and we'll need to be lucky enough to still be around when the final verdict arrives.

"There will be a verdict, then appeals, then more appeals."

The case centres on allegations that Manchester City breached Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. An independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to those financial breaches, along with three of four charges concerning a failure to cooperate with the investigation.

City have denied wrongdoing and appealed the findings.

The Premier League alleged that the club used commercial agreements it described as "sham" arrangements to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than 900 million pounds over nearly a decade. The alleged breaches included inaccurate financial reporting and violations of spending rules.

The appeal process is being conducted in private, leaving uncertainty over when a final decision will be reached and what sanctions, if any, could follow.

Mourinho managed Manchester United between 2016 and 2018, finishing second behind City in the 2017-18 Premier League season.

City are now managed by Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard's departure in the European summer. Maresca's side have made an impressive start to the season, winning their opening five league matches to move top of the table.

City are seeking a sixth consecutive victory when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday, with Maresca insisting the team must remain focused on football despite the legal uncertainty surrounding the club.