Manchester United, minus Wayne Rooney cruised to victory 2-0 against Wigan Athletic at Wembley in the Community Shield this afternoon.
Dutchman Robin Van Persie, whom Rooney has lost his first-team place to, scored the brace, while Wigan, relegated from the Premier League last season never looked as if the could repeat their FA Cup success over Manchester City in May.
Chelsea want Rooney and another bid close to £30m is expected later this week following their opening gambit two weeks ago.
The England striker apparently has a shoulder injury which prevented him taking any part in the showpiece curtain-raiser to the new domestic league season.
With the transfer window open until September 2, Rooney and his advisors will be hoping that Chelsea's expected increased bid will be enough to trigger the transfer.
Rooney is reluctant to demand a transfer at his stage, but will monitor the situation in coming days to gauge the strength of resistance to his move away from Old Trafford.
Should United dig their heels in, then an official request will be his only option.
As for the Community Shield itself, Robin van Persie struck within three minutes to give Manchester United the lead.
The goal stemmed from a wayward pass from Ben Watson which resulted in Van Persie passing wide to the left to Patrice Evra. The French left back billeted in a first-time cross which was met full on the forehead of Van Persie, on the edge of the Wigan penalty area and directed wide of Scott Carson, who dived despairingly to his right as the ball zipped past him and int the net.
Rafael lasted just 16 minutes, limping off the field to be replaced by Chris Smalling.
For the next 30 minutes or so, the heat appeared to take its toll on the players as the pace of the game subsided.
On 34 minutes, Wigan had their first real attack which threatened the United goal - James mcClean arrowed a byline shot across the United goal and it was itself only inches away from the far post.
Danny Welbeck should have scored for the league champions seven minutes from the break, but his firs time turn and shot from just inside the Wigan area was well saved by Cqrson.
United all but wrapped up the match on 59 minutes, and while Van Persie's is credited with he goal, his edge of the box left footer was on target, the ball took a wicked deflection off James Perch which wrong-footed Carson.
Substitute Antonio Valencia almost added number three eight minutes later but his low right-footer was deflected away for a corner.
Teams
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael Evra, Jones, Giggs, Vidic, Carrick, Welbeck, Van Persie, Cleverley, Zaha.
Subs: Lindergaard, Evan, Anderson, Smalling, Valencia, Kagawa, Januzaj
Wigan Ath:
Carson, Crainey, McCarthy, Watson, Holt, Maloney, McClean, McArthur, Boyce, Perch, Barnett.
Subs: Nicholls, McCann, Gomez, McManaman, Espinoza , Dicko, Fortune.