Rooney Proud After Special Night

Wayne Rooney expressed his pride after a “huge and emotional” evening at Old Trafford, where Manchester United played out a goalless draw with Everton in a testimonial match for the captain.

Rooney played 53 minutes of the encounter against his former club, before coming off to a standing ovation as United’s fans paid tribute to his 12 successful years as a Red.

It was a family affair for the forward, who was accompanied by his three sons through a guard of honour before kick-off, and he was also thrilled that the game raised so much money for charity – not to mention that it proved a great pre-season workout for his team.

"It’s a great night and a proud moment for me in my career – something I’ll never forget," he told MUTV. "We raised a lot of money for charity, which is fantastic.

"It’s a huge and emotional moment and something I’m proud to share with my family and all the fans tonight, who have been fantastic to me over the last 12 years. I really appreciate their support.

"The game was important for us in terms of building fitness and trying to get some good things out of the game, which I thought we did.

"There are a lot of positives we can take, especially from the first half, and there are things we can work on, which I’m sure we will do with the manager. Overall, it was a good night."

As someone who has always been a team player, Rooney admitted it was an odd sensation to have a night solely dedicated to himself.

"It’s a team game – that’s why it was a bit strange going out and getting all the attention before the game," he said. "I was just happy when the game kicked off and it was back to normality and playing with my team-mates!

"But it’s a one-off game and you have to appreciate it and take it in because it will never happen again. I remember a lot of moments from my time here and hopefully there will be more to come."