Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou were seen playfully scrapping at Old Trafford.
Ngannou, a huge United fan, visited Old Trafford on Thursday night for Ruben Amorim’s first home game in charge against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
The 38-year-old, who came within a whisker of beating Tyson Fury on his boxing debut last year before returning to the MMA cage in October, is a close friend of his fellow Cameroonian Onana.
Ngannou joined the United goalkeeper and his wife on the Old Trafford pitch after the game, posing for photos on a chilly night in Manchester.
In one clip circulating on social media, the two are seen playfully squaring up to spar before the former world champion goes in for the takedown. With the goalkeeper pinned, Ngannou pretends to land elbows on his prone opponent before rolling away. The two get back to their feet laughing before sharing a hug.
Last month, footage emerged of Conor McGregor interacting with Arsenal stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka on the Emirates pitch after a Champions League game.
The former UFC champion was seen aiming playful leg kicks and attempting a takedown on the latter with Arsenal later investigating the incident.
Onana made an important save in the dying minutes of Thursday’s game, keeping out a free kick that would have seen Bodo/Glimt snatch a dramatic equaliser.
The former Inter Milan shot stopper was wonderful form in Amorim’s first game in charge last Sunday against Ipswich Town. He made a number of vital stops – including one save of the season contender to deny Liam Delap – to help prevent the new manager suffering a nightmare debut.
Ngannou meanwhile recently returned to the cage for the first time since January 2022. Now fighting for the PFL [Professional Fighters League], the former UFC star secured a first round knockout win over Renan Ferreira.
In October last year, he made the move to boxing, fighting then-world champion Fury, knocking ‘The Gypsy King’ down in the third round in a moment that stunned the sport. Fury went onto secure a very controversial victory on the judges’ scorecards.
Ngannou returned to the boxing ring six months later to fight Anthony Joshua. This time, he was taken apart by the former world champion, knocked out in the second round.
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