Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has reiterated that captain Wayne Rooney will stay at the club.
Rooney has been on the bench in recent weeks for club and country and reports have routinely linked the England international with a move away from United.
The 31-year-old is reportedly subject to interest from a number of MLS and Chinese Super League teams.
However, rumours suggesting that Rooney needs to leave United in search of regular first team action have been dismissed by Mourinho, who said the reports are “not true at all.”
Rather, Mourinho has underlined his intention to keep Rooney at Old Trafford and is quoted by Sky Sports as saying: "With [his age being] 31, I know he can [play on].
"I know he can, I know he's a top player, I know he can play at the top level.
"I cannot make this kind of mental exercise of what is going to happen at 32, 33, 34 or 35. I can't say that.
"What I can say is that he's a very good player, he's a very important player for us and he's going nowhere. We like him, he likes us.
"He is not happy because in the last matches he was on the bench, but I think he's even unhappier when he's not on the bench because he's been injured and has to stay in the stands. There is no problems at all."
For more stats on Wayne Rooney, click here to view his WhoScored player page
Of course. Mourinho needs as many scapegoats as possible when it inevitably implodes around him.