Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has told the media that Bastian Schweinsteiger could remain at the club beyond the January transfer window, despite early indications that the German’s career as a Red Devils was over.

What’s the latest?

For the first three months of the season, Schweinsteiger was banished from the first team and forced to train with the development sides.

Considering how ruthless Mourinho can be, his decision to exile the midfielder heavily suggested that the World Cup winner would be out the Old Trafford exit gate.

The Portuguese coach all but admitted during his press conference this week that the club tried to orchestrate a summer transfer for Schweinsteiger, but the 32-year-old, who has 18 months left on his contract, opted to stay put.

It was not until recently that the former Germany international was welcomed back into first-team training, and he received a very warm reception from the United fans at Old Trafford when he came on as a late substitute in Wednesday night’s EFL Cup quarter-final win over West Ham United.

Rumours of a January exit for Schweinsteiger have been rumbling, with recent reports suggesting that a switch to MLS could be on the cards.

However, when asked by reporters if the former Bayern Munich star could stay, Mourinho replied:

“Of course he can. When you have a contract with the club, you are the powerful one, the one who can decide your future. So, in the summer, we tried to make something happen for Bastian, to get him a different future. He decided to stay, even in difficult circumstances, and he worked for that, so he deserved that little happiness of the last match.

“In January again he will be the powerful one, and probably with a better feeling than before because, now he’s working with the team, he understands better our dynamic, our philosophy. You can see from the other day he is someone who is so proud of his efforts, of his determination, and I like people with determination.

“Everybody was happy for him, because when he was not training with the team he did it in a professional way. He’s another one who can help us.”

Should Schweinsteiger stay put?

Despite returning to first-team training, it is very unlikely that Schweinsteiger will be handed a regular spot in Mourinho’s starting lineup.

The most he can hope for is injuries to the midfield in order to get back on the pitch, or late appearances from the substitutes bench, but even then he will just be used as a way of winding down the clock.

Considering the strong pedigree that Schweinsteiger has – he won 22 trophies at Bayern and the World Cup with Germany in 2014 – it is a sad state of affairs to see how he has dwindled out of contention.

If there is an opportunity for the midfielder to play the final years of his career elsewhere, then it would be wise to take it as he will not be a prominent figure in Mourinho’s team.

However, Schweinsteiger has previously stated that he will not play for another club in Europe, which limits his options.

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