JOSE MOURINHO has revealed he shed tears when Wayne Rooney left Manchester United.
Rooney re-joined Everton on a free transfer earlier this month to bring the curtain down on his remarkable 13 year career at Old Trafford. He will make his ‘second’ home debut on Thursday in the Europa League.
The 31-year-old is one of the most decorated stars in United’s history after helping them win five Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, three League Cups and an FA Cup.
He also became United’s all-time record scorer after beating Sir Bobby Charlton’s record last season when he scored his 250th goal.
But the England star decided to leave United after falling down the pecking order at United and losing his starting place in Mourinho’s team.
But Mourinho insisted he did not want Rooney to leave and became emotional when it happened.
“He deserves what he got and what he got was our desire for him to stay and our respect by making it completely clear that we would like him to stay,” said United manager Mourinho.
“I miss him a lot because he’s a fantastic guy.
“I’m not the kind of guy that normally gets emotional in my job but I did it with him when he left.
I am sure that he’s going to be very, very good for Everton and Everton is going to be very very good for him.”
Mourinho said Rooney became a frustrated figure at United and made it clear he wanted to return to Everton to salvage his career and secure more game time.
Mourinho said: “He deserves that. It’s not difficult and at the same time it was about showing him the respect that allows him to be happy.
“It was about allowing him to try to play every game, every minute, which honestly I think he needs.
“At his age, I think with his genetics and with his body and I think with his personality too, I don’t think he’s the kind of player to be less motivated, not so happy because he’s not playing every minute.
“I think with his body he needs to be working at high intensity every day, every match, so he deserves that respect from us.
“If you want to go, we had to make it easy for him to go.”
Source:www.express.co.uk