Jose Mourinho has confirmed that there is a possibility of Wayne Rooney leaving for China by next week
Wayne Rooney did not travel with the Manchester United squad to Paris this week as they prepare to face AS Saint-Etienne in the UEFA Europa League with the player nursing an injury. But, this nevertheless prompted speculation that the English international would be leaving the Red Devils.
Mourinho admitted that he could not guarantee whether Rooney would stay at the club or not but insisted that it would not be his decision if Rooney were to depart. Mourinho also said that he would like Rooney to stay but would leave the decision completely up to him.
“You have to ask him,” Mourinho said, according to the Telegraph. “Of course, I can’t guarantee [he stays]. What I can guarantee is that if one day Wayne leaves the club, it is not because I want him to leave the club. I would never push a legend of this club to another destiny.”
“You have to ask him if he sees himself staying in the club for the rest of his career or sees himself moving. It is not a question for me because I am happy to have him. You have to ask him, not me. I was very open with you in the answer. I don’t want him to leave.”
Reports emerged earlier this week that Manchester United were seriously considering selling Rooney, who would still command a significant transfer fee, given that his current contract runs until 2019.
Rooney has only managed 17 appearances in the league this season, 9 of which have come as a substitute. He has picked up 2 goals and 5 assists on his way but the Englishman looks like a shadow of the player that he once used to.
Mourinho himself has admitted that United have improved but stopped short of saying that they are better without Rooney in the team. However, the evidence is there for all to see and it has become obvious this is his last season at the club.
It seems like that could happen before the summer, however, as The Mirror have also claimed that Ed Woodward has given Wayne Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford the go-ahead to secure a move to China for his client.
They state that the club were waiting for Rooney to surpass Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record and now that the has, they are open to him leaving the club.
The Manchester United legend will also have the chance to leave the club on a high, should he feature in Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Southampton. Should he be fit and on his way out, Mourinho will almost certainly give him a chance to be the man who lifts the trophy for United.