BANGKOK: Manchester United boss David Moyes testily repeated that Wayne Rooney is not for sale on Friday after he abruptly quit their Asian tour and Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho voiced his admiration for the unsettled star.
Moyes was careful not to be dragged into a row with Mourinho but he showed signs of impatience as he underlined his position that Rooney, who flew home with a hamstring injury just hours after arriving in Bangkok, would not be sold.
“Unless I was speaking Double Dutch, I think we’ve said Wayne Rooney is not for sale,” Moyes told a packed press conference in the Thai capital, where he will make his debut as manager on Saturday.
He added: “It’s hard to keep repeating myself but I will do — Wayne’s a Manchester United player and will remain that.”
Moyes, Rooney’s former boss at Everton, said the England striker would be out for two to three weeks but will be fit for the start of the season on August 17.
Rooney’s sudden departure did not ease speculation about his future which has been swirling since former United manager Alex Ferguson said the striker had asked for a transfer.
The 27-year-old has denied asking to leave the club but he has not confirmed his intentions either. Britain’s Daily Mail has reported that Chelsea are preparing a 60-million-pound ($90-million) bid.
Mourinho, who also arrived in Bangkok with Chelsea on Friday, was warm in his praise for Rooney and is also looking for a striker, but he stopped short of saying he wanted to sign the Liverpudlian.
“It’s a funny, tricky question because from the ethical point of view, I cannot speak about players from other teams,” Mourinho said.
“But again you know me and you know it’s not my kind of character to speak with a little bit of hypocrisy. I always say what I feel, what I think.
“I’ve always said he’s a player that I like very, very much but I cannot say more than that. Being fast and direct, I like him very much but he’s a Man United player.” (Agencies)
