Wednesday 9 November 2016 14:08, UK
Wayne Rooney said he wanted to stay at Manchester United when offered a move to China, says Beijing Guoan's honorary chairman.
Lou Ning claims the Chinese Super League side approached the 31-year-old United captain in the summer, and met with Rooney's agent Paul Stretford ahead of the new Premier League season.
However, according to Ning, Rooney has shown a desire to remain in the English top-flight until factors out of his control determine otherwise.
"We indeed made an approach for Rooney at the beginning of the season but he's informed us that he wants to stay in Manchester United," Ning told a Beijing radio sports show.
"Rooney says he'll keep playing in the Premier League as long as his health allows. We even met with his agent."
Jose Mourinho has left Rooney out of his starting line-up on a number of occasions this season, while the England skipper also lost his place in interim manager Gareth Southgate's team.
Rooney is under contract at United until 2019 and Mourinho has insisted the former Everton striker is "going nowhere", despite being linked with a move back to the Toffees as well as abroad.
Ronald Koeman also fuelled suggestions Rooney could return to where he began his career when the Dutchman admitted he would be pleased to have him back at Goodison Park.
