Your SofC contributer was in Rome for the last week staying in the lap of luxury in the five star Cavilieri Hotel, located high on a hill above the eternal city. It seemed like exactly the kind of place you might find a world class sports team staying. As luck would have it, Sunday afternoon I was chilling in the lobby when Manchester United Football Club rolled off their bus and into the hotel. Turns out they'd be sharing the place with the Goldman Sachs European Hedge Fund Symposium that I was there with. As you can imagine, combining a hotel of high rolling, London based hedge funders and their high rolling, football playing idols was a combination that brought camera phones out of pockets faster than you can say "buy that man a pint!"
Later that night amid a dizzying array of high priced cocktails and outfits it was hard to figure out if the men in the room or the women were more star struck with the footballers, but in hindsight I can say it was probably the men. Such is the effect of the world's biggest sports team that their mere presence changed the entire atmosphere of the place, turning it from merely ridiculous to over the top glamorous. The Caribinieri had what seemed like a full battalion of poice officers watching the place while they were there and come game time they rolled out 45 five minutes before the coin toss in two buses with full escort worthy of a head of state. Motos, Alfa "squadra volante" cop cars and a Police helicopter in the sky above.
I managed to pull out the camera and get a few shots when the team came back from a jog. Enjoy.
all photos property of Mat Barlow
The team bus rolls up Sunday afternoon.
Cops posted up at the hotel entrance.
Arriving back from an evening jog. Boots off boys, no cleats on the marble floors.
Here the blond jumps in the elevator to pose for a picture, but when she tries to get out Mr. Christiano Rinaldo holds her back as if taking her up to the room. Its safe to say she was disappointed when they were only joking.
The glamorous life of the staff, on the mobile with someone else's shoes around your neck.
Players first, staff and gear wait for the next round of elevators.
View from the world famous, triple Michelin starred La Pergula rooftop restaurant where Man U readied for their beating of Roma.




Wayne Rooney, fresh of scoring a goal in Manchester United's 7-1 Champions League 


