Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes met Melbourne Storm rugby league player Ryan Papenhuyzen on an Adidas tram shoot on Saturday.
Fernandes was therefore shocked to hear the full-back had suffered a fractured kneecap in a game against Canberra the following day and now faces surgery. After hearing of Papenhuyzen’s injury, Fernandes wanted to send him a message and arranged for him to attend the game against Crystal Palace, which United won 3-1.
Fernandes met Papenhuyzen after the game and presented him with the shirt he wore in the victory, the moment captured on the 24-year-old star's Instagram page. As well as giving him his shirt, Fernandes also invited Papenhuyzen to Old Trafford to watch United, whenever he can attend a game.
Papenhuyzen wrote on Instagram: "Bit of a back story: when he found out of the injury he asked if he was able to come up the hospital and visit. He’d just come off a week of non stop training and media commitments and that was his first though. Fan for life now. Jersey swap on way"
Jadon Sancho was also shocked by the injury and made contact with Papenhuyzen, while Luke Shaw - who suffered a double ankle fracture himself in 2015 - sent him a video message.
United skipper Harry Maguire was the subject of some bizarre booing from sections of the MCG crowd in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, whenever he touched the ball. But Maguire rose above the mindless abuse from a minority of the 74, 499 crowd to produce a composed 65-minute display, his enduring popularity such that he was mobbed by fans at the final whistle, when he took time to sign autographs and pose for selfies with fans.
Things may be going well for United on tour, with three wins from three games under new boss Erik ten Hag, but back home there is no end to the anti-Glazer movement. A militant fan group called 'The 1958' has announced plans to protest against the Glazers at United's first Premier League game of the season, against Brighton at Old Trafford, on August 7.
Declaring the planned demonstration, a tweet on the group's official account read: “First protest - Brighton at home. We support the team. We support the manager. But it changes nothing. The leeches need to go! Bigger and louder than before Reds! See you all on the 7th. Share and retweet. Keep believing.”
United are likely to beef up security for that fixture, ten Hag's first competitive game in charge, to ensure the planned protests against the club's controversial US owners do not undermine the sell-out match, one they hope will be the launchpad for better times.
