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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 the fans on either side of the entrance.

He also took a long look around as he said what seemed so obviously to be his goodbyes, lingering with his arm out-stretched in a salute to the fans who have back him so passionately during his tumultuous 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 70,000 fans who flocked here - while Rooney now looks certain to leave.

It wasn't Rooney's best display in the red shirt. In fact, it was arguably his worst, with the striker looking a vast distance from the player who scored a hat trick on his European debut.

(Image: PA)

At one point, he was even out-run by Jamie Carragher from the all-star team, who has been retired four years, but along with John Terry still found it easy enough to contain the £250,000 a week striker.

Yet most of those 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 et al - 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, in a testimonial (which at least shows he still wants to win) 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, Carrick produced a stunning strike from 20 yards to level and send Old Trafford home happy.

(Image: Manchester United via Getty)

If Rooney seems so obviously to be departing after his goodbyes, then he will not be replaced by Antoine Grizemann. United were ready invoke an £80m 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 French 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 television. "It would be a dirty move to leave now - we talked to the leaders and we will be back for next season," he added.

Atletico, together 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.

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While the game was notable for Rooney's goodbye to the fans, there was cameo from Sky pair Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, while Carrick's brother Graeme also got the chance to play in the midfield with his famous sibling.

For Carrick, it was an emotional day after he invited from of the families of victims of the Manchester terrorist attack last week, along with 300 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 last week. I am glad to welcome some of the families of the victims of the Manchester attack this afternoon 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.”