Adrian Mutu is set to leave Chelsea when the transfer window reopens in January after Jose Mourinho declined to confirm that the Romanian striker would play again for the club.

The former Porto coach yesterday remarked: "I cannot say yes (he will play again)," before rejecting Mutu's initial accusation that Chelsea insisted he should play no part in Romania's World Cup qualifying fixture last Saturday because he was injured.

"Nobody in Chelsea football club said he cannot go to the national team, he cannot train with the national team, he is not in condition, you are forbidden to go, nobody," said Mourinho.

Relations became strained when Mutu declared that he was in "open conflict" with his manager after he accused Mourinho of blocking his attempts to represent Romania.

"We never say to a player 'you don't go' because we can't," said Mourinho.

Instead, Chelsea argue that they contacted the Romanian football federation to document their concerns regarding Mutu's knee injury, which it was felt might require surgery if aggravated. Much to Mourinho's dismay, Mutu went on to play the full match against the Czech Republic.

On returning to England he was disciplined by Mourinho for his outburst, and incurred the maximum fine of two weeks' wages, believed to be in the region of £120,000 (€173,000).

The 25-year-old forward is again sidelined through injury, though Mourinho refused to confirm the nature of his current problem, augmenting the suspicion that Mutu has no future at Chelsea.

Mutu, who joined Chelsea from Parma last year, has failed to meet the expectations that followed his early form, which brought four goals in the first three matches.

Off-field distractions have not helped, and he was linked with a move to Juventus in August.

Meanwhile Mourinho insisted fringe players such as Scott Parker, Robert Huth, Carlo Cudicini and Glen Johnson all have a future at the club.