Omar Berrada, the man who runs Manchester United's day-to-day operations, found himself unable to gain access to a hospitality area at Old Trafford last year — despite effectively being in charge of the venue.
The chief executive was keen to meet Hollywood star Julia Roberts when she attended the Soccer Aid charity fixture at the stadium in June 2025.
However, in an ironic twist, Berrada was refused entry to the suite where the 58-year-old actress was being hosted during the annual match between England and the Rest of the World.
Berrada shares an admiration for the Oscar-winning star, according to The Sun, with many of his generation and had brought his family along in hopes of an introduction.
The problem was that Soccer Aid operates independently from Manchester United, meaning Berrada was attending purely as a private individual rather than in his official capacity.
This technicality proved decisive, and the executive was turned away from the area where Roberts was being entertained.
The actress had previously graced Old Trafford in November 2016, watching United draw 1-1 against West Ham and meeting players and their families afterwards.
Berrada is not alone among football figures in experiencing disappointment connected to the Hollywood star.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was famously left crestfallen when Roberts chose to visit United's ground rather than the Etihad during her 2016 trip.
Speaking at a press conference at the time, Guardiola expressed his dismay in characteristically dramatic fashion: "And she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us.
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"That's why even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia came to Manchester and didn't come to see us.
"Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare to this disappointment I had."
In 2023, Roberts met Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman was in charge of the club at the time and Roberts, speaking on The Graham Norton Show, insisted she was passionate about the Red Devils.
“I've been to Old Trafford, I'm a true fan,” she said.
“I have three children and when they were really little and started playing soccer and started watching it on TV.
“And 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. And we became sort of possessed.”
Roberts, like many United fans, will no doubt be pleased with their recent form.
Following the appointment of Michael Carrick on an interim basis last month, they've proceeded to win five of their last six matches. They'll return to action against Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm).
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