Manchester United’s players are unsurprisingly in high spirits after their thumping 5-1 opening day victory over Leeds, and a small group of them continued the camaraderie by heading out for lunch on Friday.
Bruno Fernandes and David de Gea were pictured enjoying each other’s company, with the playmaker even reduced into fits of laughter, after the superstars dined in style at Cibo Restaurant in Hale Village, Cheshire.
Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic joined them for the trip out the day before they travel down to Southampton, and nearby onlookers appeared amused as the party joked around while they left the building and parted ways.
David de Gea (left) and Bruno Fernandes shared a joke as Manchester United stars dined out
De Gea and Fernandes were joined by Juan Mata (centre) and Nemanja Matic (left)
Fernandes and Mata were spotted laughing as they walked, with De Gea giggling at the back
On their website, Cibo describe themselves as being a ‘modern day, classic Italian restaurant’, and serve hand-made pasta, pizzas, seafood and meat dishes using what they call ‘only the finest ingredients’.
And it appeared that the United players were left impressed by the occasion. Mata and Fernandes looked to share a joke while they walked away, while goalkeeper De Gea, within ear shot behind them, also let out a laugh.
Matic, meanwhile, gave his long-standing team-mate De Gea a fist bump as the group split up on the pavement, while the other three carried on. It was then, as they crossed the road, that De Gea and Fernandes continued to josh about.
Matic and De Gea looked to part ways with a fist bump after they finished dining in Cheshire
Mata, De Gea and Fernandes continued to walk down the pavement as the diners watched on
Clearly in high spirits, De Gea and Fernandes enjoyed each other’s company with another joke
With some welcome free time under their belts, their attention will now turn to helping United pick up a second-straight Premier League win to begin the season. On Sunday, a typically tricky trip to St Mary’s is up next.
Ahead of the clash, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave reporters an update on Paul Pogba’s uncertain contract situation, and also stressed that Jesse Lingard still has a role to play for United during this campaign.
Both players are known to be incredibly popular figures in the dressing room, as well as close friends, and their exits this summer may hit the team spirit, as well as any potential title challenge, at Old Trafford.
Pogba has just over 10 months left on his £290,000-a-week deal, and appears set to walk away from the club as a free agent for a second time. United are desperate for him to pen an extension, but he has shown little interest as of yet.