Why were Manchester United players wearing the names of children while walking out to play Leicester?

Manchester United stars wore jerseys with the names of various kids from across the world. As part of a collaboration with Chevrolet to inspire children to make the most of life's opportunities through football, the team wore the jerseys as they walked out onto the pitch holding the hands of the respective kids.

There were representatives from China, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. They all took part in activities that involved going to the training grounds, meeting the first-team stars, going around the legendary Old Trafford stadium and more.

It all capped off by walking with the first team out the tunnel and onto the Old Trafford pitch ahead of Manchester United's game against the defending champions of England, Leicester City.

“Football inspires the kind of passion in people around the world that can transcend cultural and political differences and unite communities in a transformative way, and for our children, it is a game that teaches them that anything is possible through hard work and dedication,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer of Global Chevrolet.

“The 11 children chosen to be mascots this year truly embody the ‘never give up spirit’ that is at the core of everything we do at Chevrolet. We are proud to honor these remarkable children.”

Just after walking out and shaking hands with the Leicester players, Manchester United's stars removed their shirts and handed it to the children – an event that is soon becoming a tradition at Old Trafford as Manchester United Group Managing Director Richard Arnold opines.

“Chevrolet’s mascot moment is becoming a fine tradition in the Old Trafford calendar, an initiative that complements what the Club stands for. While we are proud of our global reach, we recognize that when our players take to the field, children around the world dream big, hence Sir Bobby Charlton famously described Old Trafford as the Theatre of Dreams."

For more articles like this and all news related to the wide world of football, please click here.