Class is permanent as the old saying goes and Wayne Rooney rolled back the years at Old Trafford this weekend.
Rooney made his debut for the Manchester United Legends team in their penalty shootout defeat to Celtic Legends on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw. The club’s all-time record scorer marked the occasion with a brilliant goal on 42 minutes, as he stepped up to place a set-piece into the top corner.
In a goal eerily similar to one netted on his Manchester United debut against Fenerbahce in 2004, Rooney bent a brilliant effort over the wall and past Celtic ‘keeper Artur Boruc.
Wonderful from Wazza ☄️ #MUFC || @MU_Foundation
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 7, 2024
Rooney free-kick first scored at Old Trafford in two years
Remarkably, Rooney’s free-kick was the first scored by a Manchester United player in two years. It’s an incredible statistic for a club that has been home to some fantastic free-kick takers, with David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney among the icons to have scored set-pieces with regularity in a red shirt.
“I’m alright with the ball at my feet. It’s just the running part,” Rooney joked to MUFC TV at full-time.
Gary Hooper’s goal earned Celtic a 1-1 draw and the Scottish side won the resulting penalty shootout 5-4.
The fixture raised almost £1million for the Manchester United Foundation.
