Mourinho Sues Spanish Daily over Critique

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has taken legal action against one of Marca's journalists over an article published this week, the Spanish newspaper said on Thursday.

The Spanish champions followed that by announcing they were studying their own legal case against a former Barcelona vice-president who tweeted Mourinho was a "psychopath."

Marca published an extract Thursday from a letter it received from Mourinho's law firm stating that journalist Roberto Palomar "referred to our client as 'the type of person who would flee after knocking someone down.'"

The letter adds that "this is degrading and was used in a manner which was completely unnecessary in the critique."

Mourinho's relationship with the Spanish media has always been tetchy since his arrival in 2010, but has heightened during a current run of poor results.

Madrid said it was studying legal means against Alfons Godall, who made the comment after seeing the Portuguese coach slide to his knees to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's 90th-minute winner in Wednesday's 3-2 Champions League win over Manchester City.

"A shame the psychopath celebrates his goals as if he was a player. It would be something to make up for the frustration of having been a very bad player," Godall wrote. "The psychopath's team has saved three points."

Mourinho is seeking €15,000 ($19,600) from the Marca journalist in damages, which his firm says the coach would donate to his son's local football team.