Why Mayweather visited NewCastle

Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark (second left), Jamaal Lascelles (centre), Daryl Murphy (second right) and Karl Darlow pose alongside Floyd Mayweather during an impromptu meeting this weekend

Floyd Mayweather is a man full of surprises and the former world champion was at it again this weekend as he posed alongside members of Newcastle’s squad during a night out.

The retired boxing champ is currently in the UK with his entourage for his Undefeated Tour, where he will meet fans and answer their questions – and Mayweather was happy to pose alongside members of the Championship leaders.

Karl Darlow was joined by Ciaran Clark, Jamaal Lascelles and Daryl Murphy in a photo posted on the former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper’s Instagram account on Sunday.

Darlow wrote, ‘What a guy! #tmt #mayweather’, as the Newcastle players enjoyed the 40-year-old’s presence after their 3-1 win at Huddersfield on Friday night.

The pound-for-pound king won all 49 of his professional fights, and with Newcastle five points clear at the top of the second tier, the Magpies players will hope some of his winner’s mentality rubs off on them during the race for promotion.

The undefeated icon was all smiles as he acquainted himself with some less prestigious names from the world of sport having enjoyed a trip to Selfridges in Birmingham’s Bull Ring shopping centre earlier on Saturday.

Such a harmonious image of Mayweather casually dressed alongside the slightly starstruck group of professional footballers comes on the same day it was alleged his luxury team bus was torched after an attack by an arsonist.

Newcastle, meanwhile, will have their sights firmly set on tightening their stranglehold on the Championship crown with victory against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night.