Jose Mourinho has claimed Wayne Rooney’s departure from Manchester United left him overcome with emotion and that the club’s former captain will not be easily replaced.

Rooney re-signed for Everton this month after 13 years at Old Trafford during which time he won five Premier League titles, the Champions League and became the club’s all-time record scorer with 253 goals.

The England striker claimed he knew as early as November that his United career was over after gradually being phased out of the team by Mourinho, whose skilful handling of the situation averted the prospect of an acrimonious parting of ways.

United ended up waiving a fee for Rooney, who had a year left on his contract with the option of another 12 months, and Mourinho said it was a wrench to see him go and insisted he would be missed.