‘You Have to Ask Him’ – Mourinho Hints at Rooney Exit

‘You Have to Ask Him’ – Mourinho Hints at Rooney Exit

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has given the biggest hint yet that star forward Wayne Rooney’s future at the club is in doubt as they prepare for the Europa League return-leg clash with Saint-Etienne.

Rooney, 31, is reportedly set for a move to the money-spinning Chinese Super League as he no longer enjoys first-team status at Old Trafford under the Portuguese manager.

Asked if his captain would follow in the footsteps of former United striker Carlos Tevez to the Chinese League before the transfer window closes next week, Mourinho replied: “You have to ask him.”

“Of course I can’t guarantee (he will be here). I can’t guarantee that I’m here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?”

Mourinho however maintains he would prefer the England captain continues at United, SuperSports writes.

“I would never push, or try to push, a legend of this club to another destiny,” he added.

Rooney was not part of the 20-man squad that flew to France for Wednesday’s last 32 second leg, and Mou remains coy on his availability for Sunday’s English Football League Cup final against Southampton.

“I don’t know. This morning was the first time he trained and didn’t even train 100 percent with the group,” the Portuguese boss told reporters at Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

“He is injured, I cannot do miracles at that level,” said the boss.

“Rooney is injured, he (has been) injured for two or three weeks.

“When you don’t have a player, you have others. The team is in a good moment. In the past few months we’ve lost only one game and it was one we could lose as it was a two-legged match.”

United take a 3-0 lead into the second leg, and Mourinho believes there will be no way back for Saint-Etienne.

“If we play normally, as we usually play, I think it is mission impossible for Saint-Etienne,” he boasted.