Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insists he wanted Wayne Rooney to stay this season.
But he felt obliged to let Rooney return to Everton as he could not guarantee him first-team football.
Mourinho said: “I miss him a lot, he's a fantastic guy. I'm not the kind that normally gets emotional in my job but I did it with him when he left.
“I am sure he's going to be very, very good for Everton and Everton is going to be very, very good for him.
“He deserves what he got and what he got was our desire for him to stay and our respect by letting it be completely clear we would like him to stay.
“At the same time he got the respect that allows him to be happy, allow him to try to play every game, every minute which I think he needs.
“With his body he needs to be working at high intensity every day, every match, so I think he deserves that respect from us as, if you want to go, we have to make it easy for you to go."
Source: tribalfootball.com