Jose Mourinho refuses to offer guarantees over Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United future
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has fuelled speculation that Wayne Rooney’s 13 years at Old Trafford are drawing to a close by admitting his captain could leave before next season.
Rooney, 31, has lost his status as a certain starter for club and country in an injury-hit campaign, leading to suggestions he could be tempted by a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
“You have to ask him. How can I guarantee he will be here next season?” said Mourinho when asked about the striker’s future.
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“If he one day leaves the club it’s not because I want him to leave. I would never push or try to push a legend out of this club.”
Mourinho confirmed Rooney would miss tonight’s Europa League match at Saint-Etienne, having just resumed training following an injury, and would be a doubt for Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Southampton.
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Rooney, who broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time United goalscoring record last month, could leave as soon as in the next few days as China’s transfer window does not close until Tuesday.