ROONEY’S FIERY, FRIENDLY FAREWELL
Carrick’s testimonial but Wayne looked to be saying goodbye
AS Wayne Rooney headed towards the tunnel at the end of Michael Carrick’s testimonial, it was easy to believe he did so for the last time.
The Manchester United captain paused as he reached the famous red awning at Old Trafford, and waved to fans on either side of the entrance. He also took a long look around as he said what seemed to be goodbyes, lingering with his arm outstretched in a salute to the fans who have backed him so passionately during 13 years at the club. This was Carrick’s day, of course, the fans rising to acclaim the man who has been such a large part of United’s success in the past decade, without really receiving the credit he deserves.
But the midfielder has one more year left at Old Trafford – a year in which he promised to deliver “more trophies” to the 70,000 fans who flocked here – while 31-year-old Rooney now looks certain to leave.
It wasn’t Rooney’s best display in the red shirt, with the striker looking a vast distance from the one who scored a hat-trick on his European debut. At one point, he was even outrun by Jamie Carragher from the AllStars team, who has been retired four years.
Yet most of Rooney’s 13 years were amongst the most successful in the club’s history, and it was fitting his goodbye was echoed by the team from 2008 – Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes, Evra, Vidic etc – who lifted the Champions League and Premier League double.
While Rooney was reduced to a lethargic cameo in which his most notable contribution was a tirade at the referee for failing to award a penalty (top), Carrick showed there is still class in his experienced legs.
With his ’08 team trailing as the minutes ticked down, after goals from Gaizka Mendieta and the impressive Robbie Keane for the All-Stars, Carrick produced a stunning strike from 20 yards to level and send Old Trafford home happy. Nemanja Vidic had scored the Reds’ first before the break. If Rooney (with John Terry, left) is ready for the exit, then he will not be replaced by Antoine Griezmann. United were ready to invoke an £80million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract to bring him to the Premier League. But after the Spanish side were hit with a transfer ban, the France international and top scorer at last summer’s Euros, insisted he could not now do the dirty on his club. “It’s a hard time for the club,” Griezmann told French TV. “It would be a dirty move to leave now – we talked to the leaders and we will be back for next season.”
Atletico were banned from registering players for two transfer windows and fined after a Fifa investigation concerning players aged under 18, who played in competitions for Atletico between 2007 and 2014. That ban will now run until next January.
For Carrick, whose brother Graeme got the chance to play with his famous sibling, it was an emotional day.
He invited some of the families of victims of the Manchester terrorist attack two weeks ago, along with members of the emergency services who proved heroes on that appalling day.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for coming along. When you put on something like this it can be very daunting. But I couldn’t have expected anything like this. It is amazing,” he said.
“The game has extra significance in the light of what happened.
“I am glad to welcome some of the families of the victims of the Manchester attack and I extend my condolences to everyone in Manchester and, after last night, also in London who has suffered as a result.
“I also welcome 300 members of the emergency services who have been heroic. Stay strong and stay together.”