Mourinho mum on Rooney's United future: 'You have to ask him'

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he has no intention of forcing Wayne Rooney out of the club, telling reporters "you have to ask him" about a potential move away amid interest from clubs in the Chinese Super League.

Mourinho indicated Tuesday that he's not the right person to ask about Rooney's future, but he does want the 31-year-old to stay at Old Trafford.

"You have to ask him, this isn't a question for me," Mourinho said, according to ESPN FC. "You'll have to ask him. If one day Rooney wants to leave the club then it isn't because of me. I will never force a legend out. You have to ask him."

The United captain was left out of his team's 20-man squad for Wednesday's Europa League tilt against Saint-Etienne despite returning to training Tuesday after being sidelined by a muscle strain for almost a month.

Rooney did not travel with the team, and Mourinho isn't quite sure when he will make his playing return.

"I don't know," Mourinho answered when asked as much. "This morning was the first time he trained and didn't even train 100 percent with the group. He was doing the warming up and the basic things after warming up but then when the training session was higher in intensity he was not training."