David Beckham wrapped a green and gold scarf around his neck in support of Man United's fans after an emotional reunion at Old Trafford.

Beckham and his AC Milan side were on the end of a 4-0 second-leg thrashing as United cruised through to the quarter finals of the Champions League with two goals from Wayne Rooney and one each from Ji-Sung Park and Darren Fletcher.

The former United icon, who came off the bench after 63 minutes, received a rapturous reception, especially when at the end he donned the scarf which has become a symbol of the supporters' anger at United's owners, the Glazers, and the club's £709m debt.

Beckham, however, later distanced himself from the protest when he said: "I'm a Man United fan. I saw the scarf there. I put it round my neck, it's the old colours of Man United, that's all I knew.

"To be honest it's (the protest) not my business. I'm a Manchester United fan. I support the club. I always have done and I always will do. It's nothing to do with me the way everything is run, that's to do with other people but I'm a Man United fan and I support the team. I will always support them."

Beckham admitted he was aware of the gathering protests against United's owners, adding: "Obviously you can hear it week in and week out. There's always protests going on. Let's hope it gets sorted out."

The former United star, who spent eight years in the first team at Old Trafford, playing 394 matches and scoring 85 goals, admitted he had been moved by the emotion of the occasion, even though Milan went out with a 7-2 aggregate mauling.

His mum Sandra was in the Old Trafford directors' box and he said: "Coming back home to Old Trafford was really emotional. I never underestimate the Man United fans. The way they supported me through my whole career is incredible and tonight was an unbelievable reception.

"My mum had a tear in her eye and probably my dad as well although he wouldn't have said anything. It's a proud night for them.

"I'm disappointed to go out of the Champions League. But sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you have been beaten by a better team.

"We said before the game if we got the first goal and got ahead then it gives us a chance but they got the first goal and straight after half-time got another goal and it kind of killed the tie. It was hard after that."

Beckham now believes United can go all the way to Madrid and win their fourth Champions League trophy.

"When you get knocked out of a competition you kind of hope that the team that knocks you out goes all the way," he said. "I really hope they go all the way."

Man United-Milan Post-match Reaction

Although Sir Alex Ferguson made reference to the green and gold protest in his programme notes and last week claimed he 'welcomed all sinners' as long as they supported his team, he side-stepped the issue completely this evening.

Instead he revealed two-goal Wayne Rooney was still carrying the niggling knee injury he picked up at Wembley 10 days ago - not that anyone would have known it by his latest efforts.

"He's still carrying a bit of an injury - nothing serious." said Ferguson.

"His performance was a continuation of his form in the last few months - just sensational and unbelievable."

Rooney has now matched Ferguson's 30-goal target for the season and is only 12 adrift of the 42 Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his stellar 2008 campaign.

Ferguson would have expected to be lined up against Ronaldo in the quarter-final draw next Friday.

Instead, Real were surprisingly dumped out of the competition by Lyon, who joined Arsenal, United and Bayern Munich as the quartet who are definitely through to the last eight.

"I was surprised at Real Madrid's result tonight. European football is very tough now," Ferguson said.

"In the last few years English clubs have done very well and I think they will be there again.

"It doesn't matter who we play in the quarters. We are there and hopefully we take advantage."

Meanwhile, it has also been established that Owen Hargreaves will not make his long-awaited comeback in a reserve team game against Manchester City tomorrow night.

Ferguson claimed last week that Hargreaves had been pencilled in for the mini-derby at Altrincham.

However, it has now been decided that the England international - who it is being stressed has not suffered a setback - will continue his training programme.

With Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher following up Rooney's double, it turned into one of United's all-time great European performances.

And there was little Milan coach Leonardo could do to ease the pain.

"We can't deny what a powerful, strong performance United put in," he said. "They played a truly great game.

"Every game has it's own history. But today doesn't necessarily reflect what we have managed to achieve so far in the league or Champions League.

"It is a very heavy defeat. But Manchester United are a very strong team and the first leg demonstrates we are not the same team that played tonight."