Rooney is aiming to raise £5m during his testimonial year for Alder Hey children’s hospital, Claire House children’s hospice, Manchester United Foundation and the NSPCC, of which he is a patron.
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The star of the show was replaced after 52 minutes to rapturous applause, with manager Jose Mourinho having an eye on Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Leicester City.
“I think you are getting someone who is not going to dominate a game on the ball like a Xabi Alonso or a Paul Scholes but is going to go from box to box”.
United have been heavily linked with a world record move for the Juventus and France midfielder, who left Old Trafford on a free transfer four years ago, for much of the summer.
“He’s been here a long time, I think he came when he was 18 and, like you said, it’s 12 years”.
But aside from their positive play, and an energetic display from fit-again and rejuvenated Luke Shaw, the game was largely uneventful, although Everton exposed few weaknesses.
David De Gea had to be equally alert at the other end, saving from Ross Barkley after muscular work from Romelu Lukaku in the build-up.
For now United are a work in progress under Mourinho.
Pogba has been at the centre of the biggest transfer saga of the off-season, though it is reportedly set for a conclusion with United closing in on the powerful 23-year-old.
Manchester United will open their Premier League campaign at Old Trafford against Bournemouth on 14th August. I don’t speak about their players.
“We are going to sign one more player, that’s for sure”, the United manager confirmed. “The deadline is August 31 and we have plenty of time to do that, but we would like to do that before the Premier League starts”.
Mourinho stuck by his plan to use 22 players, making six substitutions at half-time and the rest as the game wore on. Ibrahimovic played just over an hour.
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New Everton boss Ronald Koeman also made a host of changes, including one enforced by injury when Muhamed Besic hobbled off.
