Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping ahead of their meeting in Beijing yesterday (Picture: Reuters)Keir Starmer showed a bit of light-hearted deference to Xi Jinping with an unusual sporty gift ahead of their meeting in Beijing. The PM gave the Chinese President a football that was used in last weekend’s match between Manchester United and Arsenal at the Emirates stadium. So, the present was a gesture of humility from Starmer, a passionate Arsenal fan, to Xi, who is reportedly obsessed with Manchester United. The Chinese leader may not appear to be a likely devotee of English football, but reports of his fondness for the Red Devils go back a while. Pressure has mounted on Starmer to get some major deals from his China visit – and it’s not just due to the mild humiliation of the football gift.

Source: Metro January 29, 2026 20:15 UTC