Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has indicated an interest in signing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney if the player cannot be persuaded to stay at Old Trafford.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed in an astonishing statement yesterday that Rooney's representatives had told United chief executive David Gill on August 14 that the player wanted to leave.
If the club are forced to sell, the Portuguese insisted Real would be among a number of interested parties.
Mourinho told Sky Sports News: "He will stay. He probably wants to leave for some reason but I believe he belongs to Man United, he belongs to Man United fans, he belongs to Old Trafford. I believe he is going to stay.
"But if at the end of the day Man United decide that he is to leave, then give me a call."
Gill and Ferguson have both stressed to Rooney that the opportunity to resume talks still exists, and though Real are one of the few clubs with the financial muscle to sign Rooney, their coach Mourinho still expects the player to remain at Old Trafford.
He added: "Everybody will be interested (in signing Rooney). But I like him, I like Sir Alex, I like Man United and I believe the best thing for him is to stay there for life."
