Neville farewelled in testimonial

Manchester United veteran Gary Neville has bid farewell to Old Trafford in a testimonial match featuring friend David Beckham on Tuesday.

The right-back, 36, announced his retirement in February but was on the pitch one last time as the Red Devils lost 2-1 to Juventus.

It was Beckham’s first appearance in United colours since he left for Real Madrid in 2003 and the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder received a warm welcome from the United faithful.

Joining him from the 1992 FA Youth Cup winning team were Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, while Paul Scholes, Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs and John O’Shea also featured.

Giggs, Scholes and Wayne Rooney all played half an hour ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.

Neville, who received a standing ovation when he was substituted after 83 minutes, said he was glad his teammates got through unscathed.

“The most important thing was that the lads got through it without getting injured,” he told Sky Sports.

“I enjoyed it. I wish we had won the game but that wasn’t meant to be.”

Rooney had opened the scoring after a cross from Giggs in the first half, only for Simone Pepe to equalise.

Beckham curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar before teenage midfielder Manuel Giandonato curled home a brilliant winner to spoil the party.

The ground’s floodlights and pie machines were powered by 52 windmills across the UK, just parts of an environmentally-friendly clash Neville requested.

“I have recognised in the last two to three years the need to make personal changes in my life and reducing my environmental impact is going to be a five-year transition for me and my family,” Neville said pre-game.

“Sport crosses all boundaries and plays a significant role in many people’s lives. From my perspective, we have to look at the effect sport has had on other issues over the last 20 years to see that when sport comes together with society, positive actions can happen.”