Two Manchester United stars share secret love of fishing after being spotted in angling shop dressed in training gear
MANCHESTER United stars Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui have struck up a reel friendship — by going fishing together.
The pair unexpectedly popped into an angling shop last week while still dressed in their training gear.
Dutch striker Zirkzee, 23, and Moroccan defender Mazraoui, 27, spent around an hour inside Trafford Tackle & Bait in Stretford, a couple of miles from Old Trafford.
Owner Jeff Smith said he initially did not know who they were, but they were spotted by kids buying sweets next door.
Jeff, 48, told The Sun: “They were great. They had tracksuits on but I don’t know United players so I thought they were from the academy.
“They asked me lots of questions about fishing around the area and what kind of tackle they should use.
“They were interested in buying rods and reels and got some live maggots as bait.”
The two Red Devils also happily posed for pictures to the delight of the schoolkids.
A mum said: “They were both lovely. Some of the children asked for pictures and they were really happy and friendly towards them.”
Mazraoui previously told how he fished to help him relax while at Bayern Munich.
Other rod-loving footballers include Manchester City ace Phil Foden, who bought a home with its own lake so he could teach his son Ronnie.
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman was told to “calm down” Paul Gascoigne by taking him fishing at Euro 96. Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham have also had a dangle.