Man Utd will sell Rooney but not in England - Jose Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims that Manchester United may sell Wayne Rooney to an overseas club at the end of the season.

The Blues had two bids for Rooney rejected in the summer, and have continued to be linked with the striker as he refuses to enter contract talks at Old Trafford.

Mourinho, however, believes United will not sell to a "direct rival" and that they would instead only try to find a foreign buyer.

"I think maybe this summer they will try to sell to a non-direct rival," he told reporters on Friday.

"But they were very clear. Man United made it clear in the summer they don't swap or sell players to their direct rivals [Premier League teams].

"They were clear in the way they approached the Rooney situation. For them, it's pretty clear. They don't swap. They don't sell."

Chelsea face United on Sunday with Mourinho hoping to secure his 100th Premier League victory as a manager.

But Rooney will not play a part in that match after being ruled out through injury, along with fellow United striker Robin van Persie.