Wayne Rooney wants to stay at Manchester United next season despite losing his place in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI

WAYNE ROONEY wants to stay at Manchester United.

But the hitman, who is widely tipped to leave Old Trafford this summer, told boss Jose Mourinho he must play more often.

Reuters

Asked about his future, Roo said: “Would I like to stay? I’ve been at this club 13 years, but I want to play football.”

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Pressed if he hopes to do that at United, he added: “Of course.

“You want to play every game. This season I haven’t played as much as I would have liked. I’ve tried to help the team on the pitch and off it.

“I haven’t thrown my toys out of the pram but I’m a football player and I want to play football. The more I play the better, and the more I feel I can help the team.”

Rooney — United’s leading all-time goalscorer — has gradually been eased out of the side this season.

The former England captain, 31, has two years left on his contract at Old Trafford.

But he would have options to finish his career with a move to China or America.

Roo believes that United are on course for a trophy-laden spell — with or without him.

Boss Mourinho has already landed the Community Shield and EFL Cup this term and is bidding to reach the Europa League final tonight.

United hold a 1-0 lead over Spanish side Celta Vigo going into the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.

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Rooney did not feature in last week’s game in Spain and could miss out again tonight. But he declared: “I said in October, November, that this club will be successful under Jose Mourinho, having seen the way he works.

“If we can win the Europa League, that will be three ­trophies in his first season.

“We’re not far off challenging for the Premier League and, I hope, next season in the Champions League.”

United have won the European Cup three times. But Mourinho wants his players to believe tonight’s game will be the biggest in the club’s history to avoid complacency.

Mourinho said: “In terms of motivation, we are even. For Celta, in their words, it’s the most important match of their history and my feeling is it’s also the most important match of our history.

“It doesn’t matter what happened before, what matters is the next one.”

He has also called for the Old Trafford crowd to make some noise.

EPA

Reuters

Mourinho added: “I don’t think it’s consistent the atmosphere and the enthusiasm.

“I could feel the match against Chelsea, it was a very strong Old Trafford.

“But we had a match against Anderlecht where the stadium was not warm enough.”

Mourinho was asked yesterday whether the controversy over Paul Pogba’s transfer would affect the player ahead of tonight’s game.

Initially a United press officer tried to block the question but Mourinho said: “The question is simple. He asks the facts. No.”