Mourinho says Real Madrid ‘lived through and paid the price’ of Negreira case

Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid were heavily affected by the Negreira case and believes he was among those who suffered the consequences during his previous spell at the club.

Real Madrid are preparing to host Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in the eighth round of La Liga.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Mourinho said the club had experienced the period surrounding the case even before its details became widely known.

“I was at Real Madrid during the important years of the Negreira case,” he said. “At that time, nobody knew anything, but we lived through that period.”

He added: “Nobody knew, but we lived through it and paid the price.”

The Negreira case concerns payments made by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees. The source article does not provide further details of the case.

Mourinho was also asked about the legal proceedings involving Manchester City, who were charged by the Premier League after being found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them.

“I would rather laugh a little,” Mourinho said. “I think there will be an end to this, but we have to be lucky and continue to be here until we know the final judgment.”

He then made a sarcastic reference to the length of the proceedings, adding: “When the judgment is delivered, I will be 80 years old.”

The Real Madrid manager also reflected on the controversial situations he has encountered during his career and rejected the idea that he himself was the source of the problem.

“I do not think the problem lies with me,” he said. “I think that, many times, I was unlucky to arrive at certain clubs at certain times.”

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid at the start of the current season after leaving Benfica.

Real Madrid are fourth in the La Liga table with 15 points, six behind leaders Barcelona. They will face Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu as they look to reduce that gap in the eighth round of the competition.