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• BBC
• Tue Nov 11 2025

"Written in the stars, some might say."

After 501 days since her departure, Mary Earps is returning to Manchester United.

But the goalkeeper, who played 125 times for the club during a five-year spell, will be lining up on the other side of the pitch when Paris St-Germain visit Old Trafford in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday.

"I knew it from the moment they qualified. Sometimes you just feel it. Maybe I manifested it, I don't know," Earps told BBC Sport.

The 32-year-old said she exchanged messages with her former United team-mate Ella Toone straight after the draw was made, while she added: "Going back to Old Trafford which is a special place, with so many amazing memories. I'm looking forward to the game."

The spotlight will certainly be on Earps, who has dominated headlines in recent weeks for comments about former England team-mate Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman in her newly released autobiography.

"Mary was always a leader," said United manager Marc Skinner in his pre-match news conference. "She always had a voice and her own opinion - I always welcomed that. She always said what she was thinking.

"We welcome her back and absolutely respect her for what she did here. We also welcome her back as an opponent and I have to be clear on that. During the game, it's about us trying to win against Mary."

With United chasing a third successive win in the competition, what sort of reception can Earps expect at Old Trafford and how has she fared in the French capital?