No, not that kind of pitch ...

Most real estate lawyers thought they were an alcohol-induced Mipim hallucination, but Tulkinghorn can confirm that Spurs legend Gary Lineker, former England captain Bryan Robson and lanky Ireland star Niall Quinn were indeed drinking at the Martinez Bar on Thursday evening (10 March).

Apparently, the football heroes were on a Mipim junket as part of the Manchester stand. So while Robson and Quinn, who had glittering careers with Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, threw their weight behind the City, the mystery remains as to why Lineker was in Cannes.

One lawyer offered a possible explanation. "I have no idea," he said, "but I think he was just having a ball."

Just like some lawyers Tulkinghorn could mention ...