Mourinho: Rooney can go to China if he likes

Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho, has said he will not criticize Wayne Rooney, if he chooses to move to China in the summer.


There is speculation surrounding United’s captain future, despite the fact he became their all-time record goalscorer on Saturday, scoring his 250th goal to make it 1-1 against Stoke City.

Rooney has not been a regular under Mourinho this season and there are rumours he might quit when the season ends.

“You will have to ask him. I think the future belongs to him and what he wants in his career,” Mourinho told the Manchester Evening News.

“The way he wants to end it, the way he wants to enjoy the last part of his, that belongs to him.

“I don’t like to be critical of players who decide to go to China. It’s their life, it’s their organisation of their life, their organisation of their career.

“The money is huge, the experience can also be interesting. I know some of my colleagues think they are more important than they are and think they can interfere in the lives of other people, but I’m not that sort of guy.

“Everybody is responsible for their own life, I’m not critical with anyone. To be honest, in Wayne’s case, I have no idea, because he has never mentioned it to me.”

Mourinho however admitted that Rooney, who moved to Old Trafford in 2004, could continue his career with United.

“Could anyone have been critical of Zlatan if, last summer, he decided to go to China or USA, one guy who has had an amazing career. It is the same with Wayne,” he added.

“He owns his career. It is him, his family and his decision but of course, yes, I see him with an important contribution for us.”

“He is always close to the other players and he has a very good relationship with me and my staff. He is very humble, very respectful and I can only have good things to say about him.”

“He has more to give us. I repeat, you reach a certain level in his career when it is up to him.”