Jose Mourinho continued to court Wayne Rooney on Friday when he mischievously described the
Manchester United striker as 'a player I like very much'.
But United boss David Moyes repeatedly stated that the England hitman will not leave Old Trafford when the Scot spoke in his press conference from Thailand.
But Mourinho, who has taken charge of the west-London club for the second time, is a long-term admirer of the former Everton man and has a knack for landing his man.
Here Sportsmail tracks Mourinho’s pursuit of Rooney and shows why, when he wants someone, he usually ends up signing them.
May 2010
‘I would like to coach Rooney, as much for his football as for his mentality. But my friend, [Sir] Alex Ferguson, can relax, because it’s impossible.’
After taking over at Real Madrid, Mourinho names Rooney as one of his favourite players.
October 2010
‘I believe he is going to stay - but if at the end of day Man United decides that he is to leave, give me a call.’
When Rooney hands in a transfer request, Mourinho is left hanging on the telephone.
June 10, 2013
‘He’s a little bit like me: he doesn’t need one more pound in his contract. Be happy. Where will he find more happiness? I like him as a boy. I wish him well and hope he is happy.’
In his first Chelsea press conference, a paternal Mourinho offers Rooney the chance to be happy at Stamford Bridge
July 12, 2013
‘From an ethical point of view I can’t talk about players from other teams. But it is not my character to speak with hypocrisy, I always tell what I see – he’s a player that I like very much. I like him very much, but he’s a Manchester United player.’
Speaking with plenty of hypocrisy, Mourinho again shows his love of the England striker
P.S.
Mourinho even had his eye on a young Rooney when he was linked with a £50m move from Everton. In 2004 he said: ‘Rooney is a wonderful attacking player, I love him. His personality is amazing. But I think we have other priorities in terms of players and positions.’
HOW MOURINHO HAS COURTED HIS MEN
ANGEL DI MARIA – REAL MADRID
May 2010
‘Di Maria? He is fantastic in a smaller league, but I doubt he can perform in the Spanish championship.’
June 2010: Di Maria signs from Benfica for £21.5m
FABIO COENTRAO - REAL MADRID
May 2010
‘Coentrao? I prefer a different type of player’
July 2011: Coentrao signs from Benfica for £25m
SAMI KHEDIRA – REAL MADRID
May 2009
‘I know no one who is better than Khedira in that position’
July 2010: Khedira signs from Stuttgart for £12.5m
RICARDO QUARESMA – INTER
July 2008
‘He is a player with a profile that interests the club, however I do not like to put pressure on whoever is negotiating and say: “This is the player I want and no one else”’
September 2008: Quaresma signs from Porto
DIEGO MILITO – INTER
May 2009
'I’ve spent three and a half seasons with Didier at Chelsea. I know Drogba, but I’m not Milito’s friend. Not yet anyway…’
June 2009: Milito signs from Real Zaragoza
ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO – CHELSEA
May 16, 2006
‘I cannot say that Shevchenko does not interest me’
May 31, 2006: Shevchenko signs from AC Milan for £18.7m.
Daily Mail
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