Jose Mourinho expects Manchester United to sell Wayne Rooney to a leading foreign club if they cannot convince him to extend his stay at Old Trafford, with Chelsea resigned to missing out on the forward, given the champions' intransigence over conducting business with a direct Premier League rival.

Rooney, who is in the last 17 months of his contract, was courted heavily by Chelsea last summer, with bids of €28 million and €30 million knocked back in July and August.

Potential risks
United subsequently made it known they would not countenance his sale to them at any price, whatever the potential risks of retaining an unhappy player at the club. Even so, Mourinho had still hoped to secure the England striker this summer when he revamps his forward ranks, although there is an acceptance now he may have to look elsewhere.

The Portuguese will be spared a direct confrontation with the 28-year-old forward he had hoped would be his when Chelsea host United tomorrow, with Rooney, who has been suffering from a groin injury, having trained alone since returning from a warm-weather break in Egypt.

Yet it was Mourinho, when asked if he would swap his own squad for United’s, who introduced the subject of Rooney as he considered the forthcoming contest.

“Manchester United made it clear in the summer they don’t swap or sell players to their direct rivals,” he said. “They were clear in the way they approached the Rooney situation. For them it’s pretty clear. They don’t swap. They don’t sell.”

Asked if he saw that changing in the summer, he added: “No. They were very clear. I think maybe this summer they will try to sell to a non-direct rival. But they were very clear [about Chelsea].”

While European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, who have expressed an interest in the striker in the past, might be considered United’s direct rivals in continental competition, Mourinho subsequently clarified he had meant they would not sell to “domestic” suitors.

David Moyes claimed he "would not talk about managers and players at other clubs" when his opposite number's comments were put to him, although he did add: "I completely disagree [with Mourinho's assessment]. I can only tell you I disagree, although Rooney will go to Brazil [for the World Cup]. Only time will give you the answer about Wayne."

New contract
Talks between United and the player over a new contract remain at a delicate stage, with the club five points off Champions League qualification.

Moyes has received an apology from Mourinho for the Chelsea manager’s claim earlier in the week that he had “inside information” about Manchester United being unhappy with the season so far.

While Mourinho also stated this was due to “years of communicating with Sir Alex”, Moyes said: “I have seen it and I have had an apology from the Chelsea media department and from Jose. I think it was poor journalism, actually.”

Pressed why Mourinho said sorry, Moyes added: "He was apologising because of the poor journalism." –
Guardian Service