JOSE MOURINHO says he wanted Wayne Rooney to stay at Manchester United — and became emotional when he left.
But the Red Devils boss felt obliged to let Rooney return to Everton as he could not guarantee him first-team football. Mourinho said: “I miss him a lot, he’s a fantastic guy. I’m not the kind that normally gets emotional in my job but I did it with him when he left.
“I am sure he’s going to be very, very good for Everton and Everton is going to be very, very good for him.
“He deserves what he got and what he got was our desire for him to stay and our respect by letting it be completely clear we would like him to stay.
“At the same time he got the respect that allows him to be happy, allow him to try to play every game, every minute which I think he needs.
“With his body he needs to be working at high intensity every day, every match, so I think he deserves that respect from us as, if you want to go, we have to make it easy for you to go.”
Rooney spent 13 years at United scoring a record 253 goals and winning 12 major honours. His final appearance for the club was in the Europa League final win over Ajax in May — a game centre-back Eric Bailly missed through suspension.
And Mourinho says Uefa have been harsh with Bailly after his European ban was extended by two matches.
The Ivory Coast star was sent off in the Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo for his part in a late melee.
He subsequently missed the final but has now been told he is banned for the European Super Cup match with Real Madrid and the first Champions League group game this coming season. Mourinho said: “The punishment of not playing the final is enough.
“It’s a big punishment and I say that normally he would deserve a clean sheet and to start the next season ready to play in the Super Cup.”
United complete their pre-season tour of the US with a match against Barcelona just after midnight tonight.
Mourinho added: “It’s the best way to finish the pre-season.
“We started against MLS teams, which was a very good experience for us — to play against fit teams was good for us.
“Then we got a good English team, then Real Madrid who played almost their best team — only Ramos and Ronaldo didn’t play — so we had a good feeling.
“So it’s the best way to finish the pre-season to play against the best players, the best teams.”
Mourinho reiterated that he still wants two more signings — a midfielder and an attacking player — and confirmed Ander Herrera and Juan Mata will miss the Barca clash.
He said: “Herrera and Mata cannot play but they will recover in time to work next Saturday.
“The two injuries we’ve had were only small.”
“The two injuries we’ve had were only small.”
From The Sun
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