Will Ferrell shows off heartwarming T-shirt message as Leeds owner spotted watching friendly with Man Utd in Stockholm

Ferrell quickly became the centre of attention when MUTV cameras captured him in the VIP section during the first half. Seizing the moment, the actor proudly pointed to his shirt, which bore the words: “I ❤️ Gnesta.” His playful yet sincere nod to the Swedish locality struck a chord with the crowd, many of whom responded with a standing ovation and cheers.

For those puzzled by Ferrell’s connection to Sweden, the answer lies in his family life. His wife, Viveca Paulin, is Swedish by birth. The couple, who have three children together, maintain strong ties to the country and frequently spend their summers there. In fact, they own a vacation home near Gnesta, adding a deeply personal touch to the actor’s attire at the match.

While Ferrell drew attention off the pitch, the football on it was largely uneventful. United and Leeds played out a 0-0 draw in front of fans at the Strawberry Arena, with few moments of genuine attacking threat to excite the crowd. The Red Devils came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Teenage prospect Chido Obi nearly opened the scoring with a curling effort that drifted just wide of the post, before veteran midfielder Casemiro struck the crossbar with a fierce effort right before the half-time whistle.

Leeds won’t have long to wait before their next friendly, as they are scheduled to face Spanish side Villarreal on August 2. Whereas, for United, the friendly in Stockholm marks the start of a busy pre-season schedule. Ruben Amorim's men will head to the United States for their Premier League Summer Series, where they will face West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton.