Manchester United stars Ashley Young and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swapped football matches for mathematics… after dropping in on a Manchester school, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The stars left pupils gobsmacked after they walked into classrooms at the Manchester Academy to help out.
The surprise visit, arranged as part of the academy’s partnership with the Manchester United Foundation, saw the players take part in Maths, French and English lessons at the Moss Side school.
Young and Mkhitaryan helped out teachers with lessons and told youngsters about the importance of sticking with education.
The duo then took to the pitch to have a kick about with pupils to help promote an evening football programme, held at 12 locations across the city by the foundation.
Mubarik Yusuf, Devonie Williams, Adam Benaicha and Abdiaziz Dahir were some of the teenagers who had the chance to show the United heroes around their school.
Midfielder Mkhitaryan said: “It’s always a pleasure to meet children because we have been kids as well.
“We are still kids for our parents and have studied at school, so it’s always important to come and support them and help them to find the right way.”
Manchester Academy Principal Andy Griffin said he was thrilled to welcome the players to the school on Wednesday.
He said: “A special moment for me was the way both Ashley and Henrikh interacted with our students. Here at the academy, we have an incredibly diverse community; Henrikh speaks several languages and it was just great to see the children’s engage with the players in a really positive manner. I’m sure it’s something our students will remember forever.”
