A Manchester City supporter who went viral for drinking from an Arsenal water bottle has revealed he secretly wrote a message inside it.
Tal Rehman, a 57-year-old season ticket holder from Stockport, became an online sensation after TV cameras caught him taking a sip from the bottle during City’s recent 3-0 win over Chelsea, a moment widely interpreted as a cheeky dig at their title rivals.
Viral moment gains global attention
Speaking to The Sun, Rehman admitted he did not anticipate the level of attention the incident would generate.
“I didn’t expect it to go viral. It has been bedlam. I’ve had over 900 messages,” he said, adding that even friends in the United States had reached out after seeing the footage.
The lifelong City fan also highlighted his deep connection to the club, stating: “I’ve been a season ticket holder for over 30 years. I even named my son Yaya! Everything in my house is City memorabilia.”
Bottle stunt takes new twist
Rehman disclosed that the now-famous bottle has been in his possession since last year after being handed to him by Arsenal’s medical staff during a match.
“We sit near the away team at City’s stadium. My son said he was thirsty so I just asked the physio if there was any chance of a bottle of water. So they gave us a bottle and we kept it,” he explained.
However, the story has taken a new turn with his latest revelation.
“I had put something in the bottle which I might reveal after Sunday’s game with Arsenal. Only I know what is written on it,” he said.
The stunt has already attracted commercial interest, with Rehman confirming that a soft drinks company has approached him over potential marketing opportunities.