Ryan Giggs was just one of the famous Man Utd players from past and present to pay tribute to Gary Neville.
United stars from past and present pay tribute to full-back
Ryan Giggs was just one of the famous Manchester United players from past and present to pay tribute to Gary Neville by making an appearance in his testimonial against Juventus.
Press attention on Giggs, 37, intensified on Monday when he was named in Parliament as the married footballer involved in a controversial privacy case.
Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming used parliamentary privilege to name him as the Premier League player who took out an injunction over his alleged relationship with 28-year-old reality TV star Imogen Thomas.
A tame question about the veteran Welshman during a press conference ahead of Saturday's UEFA Champions League final with Barcelona led to Sir Alex Ferguson threatening to ban a journalist from future briefings.
Now police are investigating an incident that occurred near Giggs' home in north Manchester, in which a number of vehicles belonging to members of the media were attacked.
Amid that maelstrom, Giggs probably found the football pitch a place of peace.
Surprise
It certainly appeared so as he drove the low cross into Wayne Rooney's path that put United ahead against the Serie A visitors.
Rooney had been a surprise inclusion and the striker lasted half-an-hour before he was replaced, along with Giggs and Paul Scholes.
The latter duo are members of the famed 'Class of 92', of which Neville was also an integral part.
With Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and David Beckham also reporting for duty, the sextet boasted an impressive 3,323 United appearances between them.
For Beckham in particular, it was an emotional night as he pulled on the famous red jersey for the first time since he left for Real Madrid in 2003.
The reception Beckham received was, if anything, more enthusiastic than the one afforded to Neville.
Rolled back
At times, it was like the years being rolled back as the pair combined down the right flank, as they did so often for the Red Devils in their prime.
Michael Owen, who played so often alongside Neville and Beckham for England, nodded one of the full-back's trademark crosses over.
Owen also blazed over from a Bebe cross not long after Simone Pepe had equalised for Juve.
Anderson and Rafael were introduced after the break, when Beckham curled a trademark free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the area.
Neville's night ended after 83 minutes, the former England full-back leaving the field to a well-deserved standing ovation.
By that time, Manuel Giandonato had curled home a superb winner for Juventus.
