Evra: 'Meeting Ferguson is like interviewing with the FBI'

According to Evra's account on the YouTube channel of his former teammate Rio Ferdinand, coach Alex Ferguson talked to his agent, then all met at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris. "He didn't speak French, so it was mainly CEO David Gill that negotiated," Evra recalls. "My English is also not good, so my agent translates."

Evra revealed Sir Alex asked him a few short questions, including: "Do you drink? Do you like going out? Are you ready to lose a game? Are you ready to draw a match? Are not?". Evra replies that he doesn't drink, goes out occasionally and is ready to accept a draw or lose a match.

"I felt like it was an FBI interrogation," Evra said. "When I shook his hand, I felt that if I let this man down I would be killed. That's what impressed me."

Evra signed for Man Utd in 2006 and left in 2014, a year after Ferguson retired. The former French left-back played 379 matches for the "Red Devils", scoring 10 goals and providing 38 assists. He and the team won the Premier League five times, won the League Cup three times and once won the Champions League (2008).

"Before that meeting, the agent said we had offers from Liverpool, Inter and Man Utd," Evra added. "My agent was very excited and said 'Patrice, Man Utd want you.' Before that I watched Man Utd because of Eric Cantona. But when I met Ferguson, I felt something special. If you play well for him, you will win and achieve great things for this club."

Evra admits he became more professional when working with coach Ferguson. He also took the example of Robin van Persie, who arrived at Man Utd in 2012 after seven years without a title with Arsenal.

"Robin told me he had never seen such professionalism at Arsenal," Evra said. "He said the disciplined training at Man Utd was the professionalism he wanted. When Robin was at Arsenal, while he was still at the training ground, the kids drove convertibles to Harrods. or anywhere".

After winning the Golden Shoe with 30 goals in the 2011-2012 Premier League season, Van Persie arrived at Man Utd at the age of 30 and became one of the most successful signings in the club's history. In the first season, the Dutch striker won the top scorer with 26 goals, helping Man Utd to win the title. According to Evra, all players at Man Utd have to train hard, but Van Persie is a bit more favored by Sir Alex, because he has the ability to score decisive goals.

"You know, at Man Utd, if someone doesn't train, they don't deserve to play," Evra told Ferdinand. "But Sir Alex said that Van Persie doesn't need to train every day. Sometimes he works alone with a therapist. But the coach is very concerned about his injury, because Van Persie is the one who brings the championship title. for us".