Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claims he got “emotional” when Wayne Rooney left the club after his 13-year stay this summer, re-joining his boyhood Everton.

The 31-year-old left United earlier this month on a free transfer, with Romelu Lukaku moving the opposite way. Rooney’s exit from Old Trafford was inevitable this summer, the forward’s form over the past few seasons has been questionable, and last season he managed just five goals in 25 Premier League appearances. In comparison, Lukaku found the net 25 times in the league for Everton last season.

Mourinho understand’s the willingness for Rooney to get more game time at this stage of his career, but went on to say that the club were happy for him to stay.

“I miss him a lot,” said Mourinho. “I think he’s a fantastic guy. I’m not the kind of guy that gets normally emotional in my job and I did it with him when he left.”

“But I’m sure that he’s going to be very, very good for Everton and Everton is going to be very, very good for him.”

“It was not difficult [to let him go] because he deserves that, it’s not difficult. 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 that we would like him to stay.”

“And at the same time, the respect that allows him to be happy – allow him to try to play every game, every minute which honestly I think he needs.”

“At his age, I think with his genetic, with his body, 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 I think he deserves that respect from us: if you want to go, we have to make it easy for you to go.”
[Quotes via Sky Sports]