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Wayne Rooney completely blanking Paul Pogba's pre-match embrace in tunnel is still an iconic moment

Daniel Marland

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Wayne Rooney completely blanking Paul Pogba's pre-match embrace in tunnel is still an iconic moment

Footage of Wayne Rooney completely blanking Paul Pogba before Everton vs Manchester United has re-emerged ahead of the two sides meeting on Sunday.

Rooney joined United from Everton in a deal worth £27.5 million as a teenager, going on to become the club's record goalscorer.

He won 16 major honours in 13 years before returning to the Toffees on a free transfer in 2017.

When United visited Goodison Park on New Year's Day the following year, United midfielder Pogba was keen to reconnect with his former captain.

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Rooney is an old-school pro. He didn't have time for any niceties.

Pogba, wearing the United armband in the absence of Antonio Valencia, attempted to shake hands with his fellow skipper in the tunnel to no avail.

He then decided to embrace Michael Keane, who he'd played with at youth level for United. Rooney's resolve was unshaken and he looked away from his old teammates to stay focused.

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David de Gea is the only player who made Rooney crack a smile, slapping him on the chest as he walked down the tunnel.

Fans have reacted to the footage as well as Rooney's demeanour, thinking it sums the ex-England international up to a tee.

One person commented: "This video single-handedly explains current United’s mentality to this day."

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Another said: "One of the last old-school minds we had in the game."

A third tweeted: "Rooney was preparing for war, what a player."

While someone put: "Nobody can hate this kind of attitude."

United went on to win the game thanks to second half goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.

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Rooney and Pogba won the Carabao Cup and Europa League together. (Image Credit: Alamy)
Rooney and Pogba won the Carabao Cup and Europa League together. (Image Credit: Alamy)

The current D.C. United manager took issue with Pogba and Lingard's attitudes following a defeat in 2016.

"I do remember one time, coming into training at United the day after a defeat, still feeling very annoyed and walking into the dressing room with Michael Carrick," Rooney wrote.

"We found Jesse and Paul dancing in there with the music on. I went over, turned it off and took the speakers out of the dressing room — because that’s my mindset, that’s how I’ve grown up in football.

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Paul and Jesse accepted it, because I was the senior player, but in hindsight they were not doing anything wrong, not hurting anyone, and it was just my old-school mentality kicking in.

"As Rio Ferdinand has said, players of our generation just have to get used to this generation and what has changed."

Pogba and Lingard left United last summer for Juventus and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports

Topics: Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba, Manchester United, Everton, Premier League

Daniel Marland
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