Bastian Schweinsteiger still hopes to play again for Manchester United despite being snubbed by Jose Mourinho since the start of the season.
The Germany international retired after 121 caps with an emotional send-off as the national team beat Finland 2-0 in a friendly that was deemed his testimonial.
Mourinho has made it clear that the 32-year-old – who reportedly earns £200,000 a week – is not in his plans as he looks to compete for the title and bring Champions League football back to Old Trafford.
“New York is a great city, but I have a contract with United until 2018 and you know what the atmosphere is like at Old Trafford and it’s my dream to run out there again,” Schweinsteiger said in a press-conference.
“I listen to myself, listen to my heart. Of course I speak to others, but I make the decision. I’m not a big planner, I decide by intuition. I hope that I get the chance there to help the team. If it doesn’t happen we’ll have to see.”
The relationship between the two is already strained with the World Cup winner apparently rejecting a bid from Sporting Lisbon earlier this week, which means that he will stay at the club until the transfer window in January at least.
He added: “I love standing on the pitch too much to focus on anything else – if I want to be a coach or something. I will travel a lot after my career.”
Since joining United last season under Louis van Gaal, the former Bayern Munich icon has played just 18 league games for the club, scoring once. And despite his protestations, it is looking less likely he’ll be seen in a United shirt again if the former Chelsea boss has his way.
United’s next game is the Manchester derby against local rivals City, who also have a new manager in the shape of former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, who joined the club this summer to take over from Manuel Pellegrini.
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