Is van Gaal Farr Vintner’s latest customer?

Manchester United’s manager, Louis van Gaal, may be a wine aficionado after all when he was spotted with what looked like a wine list under his arm at the weekend.

Louis van Gaal, photo credit: Bruce McDonald

Gesturing on the sidelines during his side’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday the contents of his tactics folder were revealed to be…a wine brochure from Farr Vintners.

The extra-curricular reading material was spotted by football fan Bruce McDonald who snapped a picture and posted it on Twitter with the caption: “Looks like Louis Van Gaal is more worried about his wine choice than the game!”

Some have said it is simply an advertisement next to the team sheet as Farr does have a partnership with Crystal Palace but as the win helped seal Manchester United a place in the Champions League perhaps the merchant has gained a new customer in van Gaal?

Managers in the Premier League are known to enjoy fine wine the home manager usually inviting his opposite number to his office for a drink after the game.

Van Gaal’s predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson was a well-known wine lover and collector and who made over £2 million from selling part of his fine wine cellar last year.

Furthermore, the (sort of) gentrification of football now extends to fans being able to buy wine to drink in the stands apparently, with van Gaal and the Manchester coaching staff being doused with wine by an angry Arsenal fan earlier this season.