[h=1]How Dr Dre came to own a United shirt[/h]
Many celebrities have posed with a Manchester United shirt, and here's another to add to the list: hip hop mogul and producer extraordinaire Dr Dre.
The American shot to fame as one of the founding members of rap group NWA and enjoyed a hugely successful solo career thereafter, before branching out into business with a brand of premium headphones that you'll no doubt have seen over the ears of many a Premier League footballer.
So how did one of the biggest names in entertainment come to own a signed United shirt?
Charlie Parish is a film director and lifelong Red from Manchester who has spent most of the last 10 years out in LA working in the film industry. Having previously worked on titles such as From Hell and The Book of Eli, Charlie was filming at the Eminem show at Wembley where he first met with Dre.
"We seemed to click straight away about our love for cameras and how I was shooting, then ideas began to flow and through this, we've formed what has been a long-standing relationship," explained Charlie.
Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, later invited Charlie to celebrate his 50th birthday aboard a private yacht and, like every good guest, the lifelong Red organised a very special present for his friend.
"Through a friend close to United, I arranged for the players to sign a shirt and they knew it was for Dre, so many of them wrote personal messages as they're big fans of his music and headphones," he revealed. "When I presented the shirt to Dre, he was genuinely shocked that a football club would go to so much trouble just for him. He loved it and said he'd frame it in his house.
"He's a big sports fan and although I can't quite say he's a United fan, he respects the sport and loved the gesture. He knows I'm a massive Red and I like to keep him informed, telling him about our latest results and performances.
"Knowing and working with somebody like Dre is a massive privilege for me because of what he has achieved, whether that is in music, film or business. And despite his success, and fortune, he is all about creativity and basically surrounds himself with like-minded people.
"It can sometimes be surreal to be in his company, or with somebody like Snoop , but I love it. I'm trying to convert them into Reds!"
How Dr Dre came to own a United shirt - Official Manchester United Website