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Football

02nd Mar 2017

There’s only one ex-player’s name on fans’ lips as Michael Carrick testimonial is announced

Understandable really

Darragh Murphy

Michael Carrick’s testimonial has been announced for June 4.

The career of the veteran Manchester United midfielder will be marked by a match at Old Trafford this summer between a Carrick All-Star XI and Manchester United XI from 2008, when the Red Devils won the Premier League and Champions League double.

Carrick played a starring role that season, one of the most successful in the club’s history, and he has gone on to become one of the most important players for the current side.

His poise and ability on the ball has been praised for years and what he lacks in the spectacular, Carrick more than makes up for in reliability.

Since moving to United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 Carrick has won five league titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two league cups and the Fifa Club World Cup.

The 35-year-old’s future has yet to be decided but it is understood that he will sign a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford, meaning he will likely retire as a United player.

But while news of Carrick’s testimonial was applauded by several United supporters, most were hung up on the fact that an XI from 2008 was set to feature in the game.

And there was the name of another player entirely on the lips of most fans as they realised one of the club’s favourite sons could be set to return to the Theatre of Dreams.

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