A Toon Army tsunami! Newcastle fan makes a splash by diving into canal to race stunned rowers in Milan as fellow Toon supporters cheer him on
- Crowds lining the Naviglio Grande cheered the fan on as he swam after the boat
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Newcastle fans made a splash in Milan ahead of the Champions League showdown on Tuesday, with video capturing the moment one leapt into the city’s canal and took on a local rowing team in a bizarre race.
The over-confident fan left the rowers stunned as he divebombed into the Naviglio Grande and attempted to swim alongside them.
Delighted fans egged him on as he stripped down to his boxers to cool off in the canal, which was lined with Newcastle and England flags as supporters built up to the game.
Despite his bravado and enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, the bold swimmer only managed a few strokes before he was outpaced by the boat.
As the rowing boat disappears into the distance, clearly winning the competition, boos erupt as the man slowed down to a dejected paddle.
The fan left the rowers perplexed as he divebombed into the Naviglio Grande and attempted to swim alongside them
Going, going gone: The over-confident fan launched himself into the Naviglio Grande as a rowing boat went past
The men in the quad scull looked perplexed as the man desperately tried to race them, before he quickly ran out of steam
‘He could have made it!’ one onlooker yelled sarcastically. Another joked that the man might need a life ring as he lost his stamina.
He later tried to clamber out of the canal, with no ladder or helping hand in sight.
The fan’s bizarre stunt came just hours before his team were due to play AC Milan at the San Siro.
Jubilant fans filled the streets as the Magpies returned to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
The canal was lined with Newcastle and England fans as delighted supporters cheered their man on. Sadly, he quickly lost his stamina and the Milanese rowers pulled ahead
Hundreds of raucous fans piled into the Lombardy capital, many going wild as they drunkenly took over the streets of the city.
More fans opted to go topless as they enjoyed pre-match drinks in the city centre, with video showing a handful sliding on their chests through the rain-soaked streets.
Their antics were slammed as ‘cringe’ by some locals, with the video showing annoyed residents pushing past dozens of men as they set up a slip and slide on the cobbled streets.
The group cleared a smooth part of the thoroughfare and put out plastic cups before launching themselves like a human bowling ball.
One man took a few people out as he flew towards the crowd, leaving members of the Toon Army in hysterics.
But after an entertaining build-up to the game, spirits were sadly dampened by the result, with a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night.
