Juan Mata gets the embarrassing but essential Man Utd farewell tour treatment at Old Trafford – The Warm-Up

TUESDAY’S BIG STORIES Fare thee well, United servants Ad/> “It’s turning into a legend’s charity game,” quipped Gary Neville, who probably had his boot bag stashed under the commentary box in case he was subbed on as well. Premier LeagueRonaldo, Fernandes on target as Man Utd ease past Brentford14 HOURS AGO His hint of exasperation came after the standing ovation for Juan Mata, the 34-year-old up-and-comer who was making his first Premier League start of the season and quite evidently his last for United too.

The outgoing Spaniard was joined by the also-departing Nemanja Matic – who already made a goodbye speech that irked Roy Keane last week – in the starting XI. And for good measure, Edinson Cavani and Phil Jones came on as well.

This truly was a farewell tour at Old Trafford, and while the reality is that almost every other player at United right now is either going to leave or could, the fact that such matters were taking precedent in the 36th Premier League match of a season just shows you where United are. Along with that, there was focus on a walkout to protest the Glazers’ ownership, but that 73rd-minute plan was somewhat scuppered by Raphael Varane’s goal a minute before and Mata’s substitution a minute after.

/> Very few actually left, the chaps waving the banner reminding fans to walk out seemingly stayed, and the anti-Glazer chants were not exactly stadium wide. Grr, that’ll show ‘em.