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2nd October 2024
12:07pm BST
Conor McGregor was spotted having a kickabout on the Emirates pitch last night and posing for pictures alongside Declan Rice after Mikel Arteta's side beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in the Champions League.
The Dubliner, who hasn't fought in the UFC since losing to Dustin Poirier in 2021, was showing off his rather impressive football skills under the lights in North London after much of the 60,000 crowd had left and gone home.
McGregor was passing the ball around with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who earlier that evening scored the second goal in the 35th minute which sealed the win for the Gunners.
Many were quick to point out that the 36-year-old seemed very comfortable and at ease doing keepy-uppies, despite the fact that he pulled out of a scheduled bout with Michael Chandler in June.
He claimed at the time that he had sustained a broken toe while sparring, and doesn't look set to return to the octagon until sometime next year.
The Irishman has been making a lot of public appearances in recent weeks. Two weeks ago he attended the Anthony Joshua v Daneil Dubois fight at Wembley Arena, and last week he took part in an online poker live stream event.
Fans on social media had a lot to say about one of Ireland's greatest athletes posing for pictures with Declan Rice - a man who famously switched allegiances from Republic of Ireland to England in his early twenties.
Last month, the Arsenal midfielder struck against his former international teammates when he scored the first goal in England's 2-0 win over Heimir Hallgrímsson's side at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
It certainly didn't earn the Londoner any more sympathies on the other side of the Irish Sea.
One X user wrote underneath the photo: "England can have McGregor. Give us back our Rice."
Another commented: "As an Irishman I am proud of one and totally f**king embarrassed by the other."
While at Wembley for Daniel Dubois' win over Anthony Joshua, McGregor seemed to confirm a UFC return in 2025.
Speaking to DAZN, he said: “It will be 2025,” McGregor said. “We will see. My opponent that I had scheduled… it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on.
“My job is to go to the gym and be in shape, whenever it is and wherever it is,” he added. “I will be 100 per cent ready.
“I must get two fights in 2025. It’s the promised land. Who knows (who the next opponent will be). It does not matter. Whoever, let’s see. I’d like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes.”
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