Manchester United manager David Moyes has reiterated his stance that star striker Wayne Rooney is not for sale.
As he prepared for his first match in charge of United - a friendly against a Singha All-Star XI in Bangkok - Moyes was adamant that Rooney would stay at Old Trafford, despite rampant speculation about the 27-year-old's future.
"Unless I was speaking double Dutch last week, we said Wayne is not for sale," Moyes said.
"It's hard to keep repeating myself but I will - Wayne is a United player and it will remain that way."
Moyes said his excitement levels were building ahead of his first hit-out in the United hot seat, and said he has been impressed by the professionalism of the squad's senior members.
"I'm really excited about this challenge and this stage of my career," Moyes said. "But I'm more excited about the players I'm working with. That's the really great thing.
"They'd lift any coach and they've certainly lifted me because I see the ability and I have seen their professionalism, which is second to none. And their commitment to be winners is there every day too.
"I wouldn't say I'm surprised, but I am really pleased to see how committed they are."
Moyes said the team had been buoyed by the support they had received in Thailand, and is eager to begin his era as United boss.
"When I got the job I was very much aware of the tour of Asia and that my first game would be in Thailand," he said.
"I didn't think an awful lot about it at the time, but I'm really excited about it now.
"I know the stadium has been sold out, you see the amount of Manchester United supporters in Thailand and I'm looking forward to being here and, hopefully, it's just the first of many games to come as Manchester United manager."
