Missing; last seen being thrown off the Royal Box at Wembley by Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick.
The whereabouts of the FA Cup lid is engulfing the Manchester United universe. Their first triumph in the competition since 2004 and the imminent arrival of Jose Mourinho has taken a back seat.
So, let’s review the evidence. As the below video shows, the FA Cup lid escaped its bottom half as Rooney and Carrick raised the trophy following Jesse Lingard’s extra-time winner against Crystal Palace.
SEE MORE: FA Cup lid: Video: The moment Manchester United broke FA Cup trophy
Rooney drops the lid… #FACUPFINAL pic.twitter.com/kZNZp2oCWd
— Ben Wier (@BenjaminWier) May 21, 2016
It then appeared to go missing as the Red Devils continued their celebrations. It is noticeably absent from many pictures, and was not present at manager Louis van Gaal’s post-match press conference.
Van Gaal with the FA Cup (without lid) pic.twitter.com/TSrWAN8ukJ
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 21, 2016
And it was nowhere to be seen as United’s players were leaving their hotel in central London this morning. Some United supporters and amateur detectives on Twitters have their theories…
Rooney and Carrick might just have decapitated someone the level below with the FA Cup trophy lid! ? #bbcfacup
— Andrew Priestley (@A_Priestley89) May 21, 2016
YES!!! (p.s FA Cup lid currently going for a good price on Ebay)
— Sean Chacksfield (@SeanChacksfield) May 21, 2016
Starting to think United have broke the FA Cup lid. Every photo has the lid off. I know it fell and they found it. Must be damaged.
— ManUnitedTalk (@ManUnitedTalk) May 22, 2016
So, UTD lift the cup, note the lid of the FA Cup is in mid air, every other picture, no lid!
Did they lose it! pic.twitter.com/FHy2afaq3v— Roy Keano (@16roykeano) May 22, 2016
Pretty certain United have lost the lid to the FA Cup. Every single photo since they raised the trophy is without the lid.
— Liam Ward (@DrawMail) May 22, 2016
When I empty, the bag of beer from yesterday & find the FA Cup lid ..
Do I give it back or keep it?
— Rach (@Rachby) May 22, 2016
If found, please return to Louis van Gaal as a souvenir of his time at Old Trafford, which appears to be coming to an end as reports claim that Mourinho could be appointed as his replacement next week.
SEE ALSO:
Jose Mourinho Manchester United: Special One to be appointed at Old Trafford this week
Graphic: Manchester United are getting better manager than Sir Alex Ferguson in Jose Mourinho
FA Cup final player ratings: Lingard the hero as Manchester United down Crystal Palace