Man Signs Everton Youngster Katia Kouyate On Football Manager Then Meets Him In Subway The Next Day

A teenager randomly bumped into Everton youngster Katia Kouyate in his local Subway this week, just hours after signing him on Football Manager.

Owen, from Liverpool, is currently managing Northern Premier League side Prescot Cables on FM22 and, after reaching the first round of the FA Cup in his second season, Kouyate was available on a very reasonable £170-a-week contract.

The 16-year-old was happy with his transfer business. In fact, Owen thought he recognised the Everton youngster but "thought nothing of it" at the time. Anyway, after a successful campaign in the virtual world, he went into college the following day.

After a productive morning in college, Prescot Cables' most successful manager in years decided to order a tiger bread meatball sandwich with BBQ sauce from a nearby Subway. He picked up his order, sat down and to his shock, a familiar face walked through the door.

"I clocked him straight away," Owen tells SPORTbible.

Wearing a Canada Goose jacket and an 'expensive' pair of shoes, the man who bagged against Nantwich and FC United of Manchester in his Football Manager save was standing there.

"It was just hilarious knowing that someone from my Football Manager save was right in front of me," he says.

"I thought I'd be insane to go up and tell him that he's in my FM save."

Image credit: PA

That's right. Owen decided against approaching his virtual hero in the fast-food restaurant because "the poor bloke would have probably called the police on me" if he decided to open up about his virtual achievements at Valerie Park.

"I wanted to ask him if he prefers playing on the left, through the centre or on the right," Owen says.

But wait. The story doesn't end there.

I decided to drop Kouyate a message on Instagram to tell him about Owen's encounter and now, the Everton forward has promised to buy the Toffees fan a subway when they bump into each other again.

"We definitely have to get a picture together," he said. "Top fella."

In fact, Kouyate gave the youngster some tactical advice on social media. "I prefer to play down the middle!"

Owen is over the moon with his response. "I've never experienced him on the middle but I'll definitely have to try it now he's recommended it," he told us. "I'm sure he knows more than me!"

Oh, and what about that free subway?

"He doesn't have to get me a subway!" the teenager added. "All the goals that he's scored for me... I'll let him off just make sure you do well for Everton in real life, Katia."

One of the feel-good stories of the year.

Topics: GAMING, Football Manager, Funny, FM, Everton

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_