AP
Manchester, England: New Manchester United manager David Moyes was adamant on Friday that Wayne Rooney was not for sale but stopped short of saying the England striker no longer wanted to leave the club.
Rooney's future dominated the Scot's first news conference since he took over the Premier League champions from the retired Alex Ferguson, who had said in May that the unsettled forward had asked for a transfer.
"I've had a chance to speak to Wayne... the fact of the matter is Wayne is not for sale," Moyes said at Old Trafford.
"He is a Manchester United player and will remain a Manchester United player. I've known Wayne since he was 16 ... he's training very well, he's come back in good shape and I really look forward to working with him."
Moyes was repeatedly asked about Rooney, including direct questions such as: "Has he told you he would like to stay at Manchester United?" but failed to give 'yes' or 'no' answers.
"What we are doing at the moment is we are looking to see how we can get Wayne Rooney getting those goals which are going to challenge the likes of Bobby Charlton and Denis Law's (total) number," said the former Everton manager.
"As far as I'm concerned, the way he's working I'm more than happy to work with him and make sure we get success.
Rooney has scored 197 goals in 402 United appearances, winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2008 and two League Cups.
Charlton holds the club's all-time record of 249 goals with Law second on 237.
Asked if Rooney had categorically told him that he did not want to leave, Moyes replied: "I can tell you categorically Wayne Rooney is training fantastically well in the last two days, that's all I can categorically tell you."
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