My United: Avelino
As the curtain closed on the 2021/22 season, Manchester United invited one of our proud sponsors, Chivas Regal, to take part in a pitch day at Old Trafford.
A UK XI played against a World XI on the hallowed turf, and we caught up with Avelino after his time on the pitch.
The British rapper has been a proud fan of the Reds for pretty much his entire life and has even featured in some of our previous kit launches. Hence we chatted all things United, but started our interview by asking him this...
How does it feel to play at Old Trafford?
“It’s brilliant, man. I’m a die-hard United fan. Aside from my time being consumed entirely by music, the other hour is purely football. I’ve grown up on United, so when I look back on my life, most of my best memories will be related to football and this club. So to play here again, it’s a dream.”
How was the game?
“An unbelievable occasion for a man like myself, especially as a United fan. In terms of football, it wasn’t my best performance, but I scored at Old Trafford so I can’t argue with that. No complaints.”
The British rapper has been a proud fan of the Reds for pretty much his entire life and has even featured in some of our previous kit launches. Hence we chatted all things United, but started our interview by asking him this...
How does it feel to play at Old Trafford?
“It’s brilliant, man. I’m a die-hard United fan. Aside from my time being consumed entirely by music, the other hour is purely football. I’ve grown up on United, so when I look back on my life, most of my best memories will be related to football and this club. So to play here again, it’s a dream.”
How was the game?
“An unbelievable occasion for a man like myself, especially as a United fan. In terms of football, it wasn’t my best performance, but I scored at Old Trafford so I can’t argue with that. No complaints.”
If you could line up alongside one United player, past or present, who would it be?
“Wayne Rooney. He’s arguably the greatest Manchester United player of all time.”
How does it feel walking down the iconic tunnel from the dressing room to the pitch?
“Unreal, like goosebumps. Even my dreads started standing up! It’s beautiful, I've done it before and I just don’t even have the words.”
What’s your favourite Manchester United moment?
“Oh, Moscow, easy. The 07/08 season, that penalty shootout. Oh mate, I remember just being on my knees as a kid in front of the TV watching it. When Terry missed, and Van der Sar saved Anelka’s penalty, I ran out of the house into the middle of my estate screaming. People were looking out of their windows like something crazy had happened. Whatever they thought had happened, something crazier happened, United won the Champions League.”
“Wayne Rooney. He’s arguably the greatest Manchester United player of all time.”
How does it feel walking down the iconic tunnel from the dressing room to the pitch?
“Unreal, like goosebumps. Even my dreads started standing up! It’s beautiful, I've done it before and I just don’t even have the words.”
What’s your favourite Manchester United moment?
“Oh, Moscow, easy. The 07/08 season, that penalty shootout. Oh mate, I remember just being on my knees as a kid in front of the TV watching it. When Terry missed, and Van der Sar saved Anelka’s penalty, I ran out of the house into the middle of my estate screaming. People were looking out of their windows like something crazy had happened. Whatever they thought had happened, something crazier happened, United won the Champions League.”
You already mentioned that you’d like to line up alongside Wayne Rooney, but do you have an all-time favourite United player?
“Paul Scholes, he’s one of the best English players that we’ve ever seen. The main reason is the type of player that he was. It shows through in the respect that other professionals give him. His game was really technical and then he’d slap in a 30-yarder. I always felt safer when Scholes was there, because we could keep the ball, he’d dictate the tempo of the game.”
Who is your favourite young baller at United?
“It’s got to be Hannibal Mejbri definitely.”
“Paul Scholes, he’s one of the best English players that we’ve ever seen. The main reason is the type of player that he was. It shows through in the respect that other professionals give him. His game was really technical and then he’d slap in a 30-yarder. I always felt safer when Scholes was there, because we could keep the ball, he’d dictate the tempo of the game.”
Who is your favourite young baller at United?
“It’s got to be Hannibal Mejbri definitely.”
Are you excited for next season?
“Yeah, obviously we’ve got Erik ten Hag in. I have no doubt that he’s going to rebuild the club.”
Who is your dream signing for next season?
“Erik was my dream signing! But otherwise, Jude Bellingham.”
“Yeah, obviously we’ve got Erik ten Hag in. I have no doubt that he’s going to rebuild the club.”
Who is your dream signing for next season?
“Erik was my dream signing! But otherwise, Jude Bellingham.”
We want to pick your all-time United five-a-side team. You can put yourself in it, too.
“Obviously I’m the first name on the team sheet. So it’d be me, Wazza, CR7, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes.”
Who would make it into your United five-a-side team? Head over to @weareunited on Instagram and let us know in the comments.
Watch our exclusive behind-the-scenes video from the Chivas Regal game at Old Trafford, featuring Avelino, here.
“Obviously I’m the first name on the team sheet. So it’d be me, Wazza, CR7, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes.”
Who would make it into your United five-a-side team? Head over to @weareunited on Instagram and let us know in the comments.
Watch our exclusive behind-the-scenes video from the Chivas Regal game at Old Trafford, featuring Avelino, here.
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