Young to leave, Schweinie to stay, confirms Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO expects Ashley Young to be the third player to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window – but made it clear that Bastian Schweinsteiger would be staying put following his man-of-match performance against Wigan yesterday.

The United manager also gave no reassurances about Wayne Rooney’s future at Old Trafford.

“Ashley is a player I would love to keep. I am not happy he is leaving,” said Mourinho, although since Young last started a Premier League fixture on Nov 6, he has long been surplus to his manager’s requirements. He has been linked with moves to Everton, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham and Watford – as well as China.

Interestingly, on the day Sir Bobby Charlton presented Rooney with a golden boot to mark the passing of his Manchester United goalscoring record, Mourinho did not give any indication that he wanted his captain to stay.

He was, however, effusive about Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored Manchester United’s final goal in the 4-0 defeat of Wigan in the FA Cup, which was his first start in more than a year.

“Yes, he is staying,” said Mourinho of Schweinsteiger. “He is going on to the Europa League list because, with the sale of Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin, there are spaces open.

“We don’t have many players and we don’t have many options in midfield. Ninety minutes was probably too hard for him.

“I think he is happy now and he was a good professional when he was not playing and with so many competitions and games he will be an option.” – The Independent