Ajax midfielder thrilled with Rooney recognition

David Neres was stunned that the Manchester United captain spoke to him after his side’s Europa League final defeat to Jose Mourinho’s men

Ajax midfielder David Neres has expressed his utter delight at Wayne Rooney recognising him during the Europa League final!

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The Eredivisie giants were defeated in the showpiece in Sweden, as goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Jose Mourinho’s side a 2-0 victory.

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Neres, a pacey winger of Brazilian descent, was a second-half substitute during the final, and was congratulated for his part in the game by Rooney after the final whistle.  

“Rooney knew my name! I couldn’t imagine that. At the end of the game, he greeted me and said my name. I couldn’t imagine,” he said on ESPN Brasil.

“I was a bit upset because we lost the game. Then he came, greeted me, said my name, I even forgot the defeat. Pogba too, a few of Manchester’s players.”

Aged just 20, Neres made 16 appearances in all competitions in 2016-17, scoring five goals and providing four assists.