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Manchester United will host a testimonial for captain Wayne Rooney next summer, ESPN reports. The testimonial will be held in order to celebrate the former Everton player’s 12 years association with the club. The match is scheduled to take place on 3 August 2016.
The match can be played against a host of big clubs like Bayern Munich or Barcelona. However, Daily Mail reports that the England captain wants to play the testimonial against his boyhood club, Everton.
According to Manchester United’s official website, the proceeds from the match will go to a list of charities, namely, Alder Hey Children's hospital in Liverpool, Claire House Hospice, The Manchester United foundation and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in making this testimonial become a reality," said Rooney on Manutd.com.
"Most of all I want to thank the fans for all their incredible support for me and the team since I joined the club. The match night will obviously be special for me and my family but I hope it will be a night of celebration for all involved and that we can also deliver one or two surprises.”
"Most of all I hope the fans will come out in force and help raise as much money as possible for these amazing charities, all of which are very close to my heart for different reasons.”
According to Daily Mail, the all time England top scorer will invite his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for the testimonial. Rooney has also played under David Moyes, both at Everton and Manchester United and it is believed that the Scottish manager will be invited to manage one of the two teams involved in the match.
United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward had his say on the testimonial as well on Manutd.com. He said, "I am delighted that United fans will be able to celebrate Wayne's amazing years at the club in this way.
“From his sensational debut hat-trick to the latest of his 236 goals, he has been a central figure in what has been one of the most successful periods in the club's history, winning everything from the Club World Cup, the Champions League and League Cup, to his five Premier League titles.”
"Wayne has selected good causes very close to his heart and the club is delighted to play its part, in providing Old Trafford as a fitting stage for such a game."
The United skipper is going through a rough patch this season. He has scored only two goals this season in the English Premier League. He ended his 878-minute goal drought by scoring a hat-trick in a Champions League playoff match against Club Brugge, on 26 August. However, he has failed to produce the level of performances expected from him, and has received a lot of criticism for the same.
