Pep Guardiola might want to look away after Julia Roberts visited Manchester United players and staff on their pre-season tour of America.
The Hollywood actress lives Stateside and is a big fan of the Red Devils after previously being welcomed behind-the-scenes. Guardiola’s idol visited Old Trafford in November 2016 to watch Manchester United who were being managed by Jose Mourinho.
Roberts at the time attended Old Trafford with her cinematographer husband Daniel Moder and her three children, who are believed to be United fans. Now she has been given unfiltered access for a second occasion and posed for photos with United boss Erik ten Hag and other stars at the MetLife stadium after Saturday’s friendly win over Arsenal.
The Premier League giants also presented her with a home shirt inscribed with the number one and Roberts on the back of it in a dig at their cross-city rivals. Roberts’ star status matches United’s biggest names with plenty asking for photos with the 55-year-old supporter.
Marcus Rashford fresh from signing a new long-term contract with his boyhood club put his arm round Roberts and was hugged as the pair posed for a snap. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was all smiles as he grinned ear-from-year while standing next to her after getting pre-season minutes into his legs.
United’s new captain Bruno Fernandes also couldn’t hide his delight, while Scotland international Scott McTominay looked ecstatic to meet Roberts. Summer signing Mason Mount also got in on the celebrity meeting as did World Cup winning centre-back Raphael Varane.
Meanwhile, for Guardiola it is a case of what could have been as Roberts cemented her love for the red half of Manchester.
Two months before they won Europe’s biggest prize for the first time, Guardiola said: ‘I am a failure in the Champions League. Even if I win the Champions League three times in a row I will be a failure. I have three idols in my life. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester – not in the 90s when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right? She went to visit Manchester United, she didn’t come to see us. Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and not to see us.’
Roberts though did go on to congratulate Guardiola after they secured the Treble by winning the Champions League.
Share or comment on this article: Julia Roberts poses with Manchester United stars as Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford meet the Hollywood actress on tour of America after Pep Guardiola previously labelled her as his ‘IDOL’.
