Man United thrashed Reading 4-0 on Saturday in the FA Cup third round, with Wayne Rooney scoring to equal his club's all-time goal-scoring record and Marcus Rashford adding a late brace after an impressive display.
But the most entertaining moment appeared to come at full-time during the handshakes and shirt swaps. Is Reading's George Evans, who played in Man City's youth ranks from 2003-2013, really snubbing Rooney's offer of his sweaty, match-worn shirt?
Does former @ManCity man @GeorgeEvans70 turn down the shirt of @WayneRooney?🙈 #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/zT5jFPllzw
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) January 7, 2017
It would be understandable if that were the case -- there's never an obligation to exchange kit after a game, though it might simply be that the Reading centre-back may not have been in the mood to have a memento from a 4-0 shellacking on Saturday morning television -- but Mr. Evans has since taken to Twitter himself and explained it all!
To clear up I asked to exchange shirts in the tunnel due to a disappointing day!! congratulations on your record @WayneRooney 👏🏼⚽️ pic.twitter.com/oMEfoP2Pat
— George Evans (@GeorgeEvans70) January 7, 2017
A much more reasonable explanation than was initially posited on social media: he just didn't want to do it on the pitch out of respect for any Reading fans that had been there to witness a heavy defeat.
Fair play to Evans, Rooney and the whole shirt swap shenanigan.