BANGKOK (AFP) - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admitted on Friday that he admires Wayne Rooney "very, very much", but stopped short of saying he hoped to sign the unsettled Manchester United star.

Mourinho was speaking at the start of Chelsea's Asian tour in Bangkok, just hours after Rooney pulled a hamstring on the first day of United's visit and abruptly left the Thai capital.

"I've always said he's a player that I like very, very much but I cannot say more than that. Being fast and direct, I like him very much but he's a Man United player," the Portuguese said.

Mourinho is seeking a striker to complement the erratic Fernando Torres and he has brought back Romelu Lukaku after a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion following his return to the London club.