Sport

Manchester City star Rodri pops into Rochdale pub and poses for a photo with a fan

We can neither confirm nor deny whether he had a pint or not. We're sure Pep has spies everywhere.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 3rd August 2023

Manchester City star, Rodri, was randomly spotted enjoying some recreational time in a little pub over in Rochdale this week. Not exactly where you’d expect to bump into a treble winner.

That’s right, the man who scored the winning goal and saw Man City lift their first-ever Champions League trophy, not to mention secure the coveted treble last season, just so happened to pop into a Rochdale pub called the Bridge Inn over in the village of Norden.

Posted on Monday, 31 July, the Bridge Inn shared a picture of the 27-year-old defensive midfielder posing for a photo with a City fan who was fortunate enough to be in there at the same time as the footballer, along with the caption: “Some footballer and a happy customer”.

I mean, you would be pretty buzzing if you went down the boozer for a quick pint and a pack of crisps one evening and ended up bumping into one of your team’s most beloved players.

Speaking to the MEN, the lucky City fan who got a picture with Rodri in the Rochdale pub, Jack Samuel, said that “he seemed a really nice bloke.

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“He wasn’t bothered at all that I’d asked for a photo and didn’t hesitate to say yes, but I apologised for disturbing him nonetheless.”

As for the pub’s landlord, Simon Britton — a big Man United supporter and was out at the time — he admitted that he was still “gutted” to have caught the famous face coming into his pub and would have “got a photo of me in my United shirt with him”.

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Rodri apparently came in to order some food but was told they sadly weren’t serving. Britton said, “I’m telling everyone he came to try our homemade onion rings but the kitchen was closed”, adding, “If he comes in again I’ll buy him a pint.” A kind gesture but one he’d likely turn down as famously doesn’t drink — unless, of course, it’s the title parade after winning the treble.

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Another amusing detail, as spotted by someone in the comments, is that if you look closely you can see that he actually has his fly down. Why are you looking down there, Claire!?

A true man of the people, nonetheless.

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Rodri has not long been back in Greater Manchester either, as the Blues have only just flown home from South Korea following the end of their pre-season on Sunday, where they lost against the Spaniard’s former club Atlético de Madrid 2-1.

Pep Guardiola and his squad play their first real competitive game of the season this Sunday when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield ahead of their Premier League opener against Burnley on 11 August. Just make sure you tie your boots, Rodders.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — The Bridge Inn (Facebook)

Sport

Man United broadcaster FlexUTD responds after suffering ‘awful’ racist abuse on camera

Danny Jones Danny Jones FlexUTD responds after racist abuse by woman in post-match video Man United

Manchester United content creator, YouTuber and digital presenter, FlexUTD, has shared a disappointed but defiant response following a racist incident captured during a video after the game this weekend.

Flex – real name Flex Alexander – is a familiar face among Man United fans and a well-known personality across the online English football culture, having previously worked with another popular fan channel in The United Stand before founding his own brand, United View.

Whilst recording his regular post-match analysis outside Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, the social media influencer was interrupted by a woman and fellow United supporter.

After seemingly giving someone a quick shout-out, she then proceeds to wander out of frame before appearing to utter a racial slur off-camera in the form of an offensive twist on the fan base’s famous anti-Glazer chant.

racist woman on man united fan cam
racist abuse united view
Credit: United View (via YouTube)

In the video shared to the official YouTube channel, he is visibly stunned by the racist outburst and members of the crew behind the camera can also be heard asking, “Did you just see what I think you said?”, adding “There’s always one or two.”

The identity of the female United fan is still unknown and although her face remains blurred for legal reasons, Flex himself did come out on social media to ask people to “find this woman” in order for the club to identify her and the authorities to punish her accordingly.

Still taken aback by the racial slur, Flex simply goes on to describe the off-hand abuse as “crazy” before insisting that the moment will be staying the full edit so as not to let the incident go unnoticed.

Ever since the video was released, other Reds, football fans and content creators alike have been sharing their support online.

One person wrote, “It’s 2024 and we’re still seeing people saying racist things and they think they can get away with it. Hope Flex gets justice for this.”, while another tagged the club and added: “Can’t be having these type of fans enter the stadium.”

Flex has since responded online in a separate video, thanking people for their heartfelt messages, but despite assuring that he has a “thick skin”, he quite rightly went on to add that people of colour shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of intolerable behaviour and he is simply “tired”.

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Retired striker and former United coach Benni McCarthy also reached out online to offer some kind words, writing: “Hi mate, hope you [are] ok. That was absolutely unnecessary and you shouldn’t have to deal with such behaviour. Stay strong bro and behind you all the way.”

The club themselves are yet to issue a statement regarding the incident but with both current players and former staff responding, it likely won’t be long before the individual is identified and issued with a ban. United had to deal with similar incidents regarding racism and homophobia last season.

It goes without saying that we condemn discrimination in all its forms; our thoughts go out to Flex and everyone else affected by the incident and hope the incident is dealt with swiftly. The beautiful game is for everyone and there’s no room for racism in any walk of life. #KickItOut.

You can watch Flex’s full video addressing the situation, in which he urged people to “stay strong, keep fighting” and “stick together”, down below:

FlexUTD’s full response following the appalling racist incident on 4/11/2024.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — United We Stand (via YouTube)/FlexUTD (via X)

Sport

Bruno Fernandes reveals he apologised to Erik ten Hag after Man United sacking

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bruno Fernandes apologised to Erik ten Hag after being sacked by Man United

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed he personally apologised to Erik ten Hag after he was sacked by the club last week following a poor run of results.

The Man United midfielder was made club captain by ten Hag back in July 2023 and was one of the most trusted players throughout his two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford, barely missing a minute of football besides through a red card suspension.

Fernandes is also one of the most senior figures in the dressing room, not only down to his age but because he has now spent nearly half a decade at United, and so the ‘Portuguese Magnifico’ was seemingly one of the first to hold his hands up after the Dutchman was relieved of his duties.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, in which club legend turned interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge for his second game, Bruno also reflected on the season so far and how he “feels responsible” for how things ended with ten Hag.

The 30-year-old was the scorer of the Reds’ only goal on the night after Rasmus Højlund earned them a penalty and scored two in the cup tie against Leicester but was visibly disappointed with the level of performance following the result and after missing a crucial chance which could have won the game.

“Obviously, it’s a different week because Erik [ten Hag] is gone and it’s not good for anyone at the club when a manager goes because it means the positions and where the team is not the best; the results are not the best and manager is the one that pays”, said Fernandes.

“Whenever you see a manager go you have to take a little bit of the blame on yourself because you need to look at the mirror first […] everyone as an individual has to look at themselves first. […] I spoke to the manager and apologised […] I’m really disappointed that he is gone but what remains with me is to give everything and try to help in any way possible…”

“We are not scoring goals and I feel a lot of [responsibility] because I normally give a lot of goals and assists and it was not coming so I feel disappointed, but I always give 100% and he is aware of that.”

Regardless of his lengthy answer, whether or not Bruno said sorry to ten Hag is not enough for some, as the ever-harsh critic and former midfielder stalwart himself Roy Keane summed up his response by simply adding, “Too little, too late.”

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Whether or not Bruno having apologised to ten Hag is enough to keep other pundits, fans and the new manager on-side during a crucial few weeks where the club is set for another significant period of change, only time will tell.

With fellow compatriot Rúben Amorim – who led Bruno’s former club Sporting CP to their first league title in 19 years, not to mention a second championship last season and a first-place spot so far this campaign – now confirmed as the new head coach, the United number eight will be looking to recover the output fans have seen from him in previous years.

Set to start the job on Monday, 11 November, van Nistelrooy will remain as interim manager for the next two games: the Europa League match against PAOK and another home fixture against Leicester after having beaten them 5-2 in the EFL Cup during his first game in charge.

As for Amorim, he revealed that he wanted to see out the rest of 2024/25 with Sporting before taking the United job but that INEOS wanted him to start ASAP, describing the offer as a “now or never” opportunity. You can watch the highlights from the first Premier League match under Ruud down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshots via YouTube)

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