Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand saw his testimonial party ruined by Sevilla as the Spanish side won 3-1 at Old Trafford on Friday.
Ferdinand was celebrating 11 successful years with United, but the former England star ended the night on the losing side as his club’s inconsistent pre-season form continued.
While it was only a friendly, and most of United’s senior stars missed out in readiness for Sunday’s Community Shield against Wigan at Wembley, it does mean they have won just two of seven pre-season matches since David Moyes replaced Alex Ferguson as manager at the end of last season.
Following the failure to make any significant signings to date, and the continued uncertainty over Wayne Rooney’s future, the result is hardly the ideal backdrop to a Premier League title defence that starts at Swansea next Saturday.