One of Pep Guardiola’s idols shares how she became a ‘true’ Man Utd fan, it will break his heart again

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One of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s idols has revealed how she became a Manchester United fan and how her family “became sort of possessed” by the club.

Oscar-winning actor Julia Roberts is a United fan — much to the heartbreak of Guardiola — and has watched her team live in action when she visited Old Trafford.

Ahead of United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham in 2016, Roberts took to the pitch at Old Trafford with her family and met with the likes of club legend Michael Carrick.

Outside of her visit to the Theatre of Dreams, the 56-year-old American actor was in attendance for United’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium last summer.

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Roberts on how she became a United fan

Roberts, known for her roles in Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich, appeared on The Graham Norton Show and was asked about her family’s attachment to United.

Joined by Cher, Timothee Chalamet and Tom Hanks, Roberts opened up about her meeting first-team stars like Marcus Rashford and current manager Erik ten Hag.

“I’ve been to Old Trafford, I’m a true fan… I have three children and when they were really little and started playing soccer they started watching it on TV,” she said.

“I didn’t ever realise how exciting it was to watch it on television.

“We just got so into it and somehow Manchester United just became our team, the Moder family team. We became sort of possessed.”

Why does Guardiola love United fan Roberts?

Guardiola randomly opened up about his admiration for Roberts last season after City’s 7-0 demolition of RB Leipzig in the round of 16 in the Champions League.

City won the Champions League for the first time last season, with Guardiola’s men securing a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final and completing their treble.

Ahead of last season’s Champions League triumph, Guardiola faced criticism over his failure to win the trophy since his prolific Barcelona managerial spell.

Speaking after the second-leg Leipzig tie back in March, the City manager claimed that his three idols in life were Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Roberts.

“Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester — not in the ‘90s when Sir Alex [Ferguson] was winning titles and titles and titles,” he said at the time.

“She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right?

“She went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. That’s why even if I win the Champions League, it will not compare [to] the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn’t come to see us.”