There have been rumours that Rooney, who is no longer an integral part of the United side under Mourinho, could eventually leave for the mega-rich Chinese Super League.
"You have to ask him," said Mourinho on Tuesday when asked if there was any chance the 31-year-old could follow in the footsteps of the likes of former United team-mate Carlos Tevez and move there before the transfer window closes next week.
"Of course I can't guarantee (he will be here). I can't guarantee that I'm here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?"
Mourinho, though, insisted he wants Rooney to stay, saying: "I would never push, or try to push, a legend of this club to another destiny."
Rooney trained with his United team-mates in Manchester on Tuesday morning but was not part of the 20-man squad that flew to France for Wednesday's last 32 second leg.
Asked if he would be fit for Sunday's English Football League Cup final against Southampton, Mourinho was non-committal.
"I don't know. This morning was the first time he trained and didn't even train 100 percent with the group," the Portuguese boss told reporters at Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
"He is injured, I cannot do miracles at that level," said the boss.
"Rooney is injured, he (has been) injured for two or three weeks.
"When you don't have a player, you have others. The team is in a good moment. In the past few months we've lost only one game and it was one we could lose as it was a two-legged match."
The Europa League has taken on added importance for United, who are battling on four fronts, as it offers a qualification place to next season's Champions League for the winners.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
