Conor McGregor wanted Liverpool to win the Champions League final despite being a Manchester United fan.
Liverpool were defeated by Real Madrid in the competition's final last weekend thanks to a second-half goal from Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. It was a tough loss to take for the Reds, who previously lost the same final to Madrid in 2018.
McGregor has been a fan of United since a child and was pictured as a young boy wearing their kit. The UFC star revealed his family are big Liverpool supporters so he put aside the rivalry for one game by supporting the Reds against Madrid.
"You know, my family are Liverpool, I'm a supporter of Liverpool," he said before the final. "I'm a supporter of Real Madrid also. I hope for a great game but I'll have to go with the pool [Liverpool] for this one, I'll have to go for the pool."
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McGregor's father Tony spent the early years of his life in Liverpool. It was only when he was sent to live with relatives in Dublin that he met McGregor's mother Margaret. Despite Tony's ties to Liverpool, McGregor was a United fan as a youngster and admitted he played football more than he watched it.
“I was more a player than a watcher back then, but Manchester United was my team," he told the club last year. "It was only the other day I came across an old picture of myself wearing that infamous grey United jersey.
"I bought with my [First Holy] Communion money at eight years of age. I see my son when I look at that photo. I’d love to know where it is now. A truly ‘Notorious’ football jersey!"
McGregor, who has toyed with the idea of buying United, used to play as a forward and claimed to be a "goal machine" in his youth. He was a big fan of United legends Denis Irwin and Roy Keane, stating Keane was one of the best midfielders of his era.
“I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality," he continued.
"Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they’d even stepped on to the pitch to face him."
