Sport

‘It’s personal’: Manchester United’s Patrice Evra gets cryptic over possible exit after failing to agree new deal

By Tim Hyde

Far from shy left-back Patrice Evra suggested that he may have to leave Manchester United for personal reasons after failing to sign a new contract.

The 32-year-old has been a mainstay at Old Trafford since his arrival from Monaco in 2006 appearing 340 times for the red devils – often captaining the side when Nemanja Vidic was side-lined.

However the Senegalese-born left-back was asked on French football programme Telefoot whether he was concerned about his contract expiring and the fact a new deal was not in place.

“No, not at all, it is a personal thing. It is not that Manchester United do not want me to sign a new contract. This whole thing is personal,” Evra said.

“Manchester United would like me to finish my career there, but this is something personal.”

Evra’s current deal is believed to give the Frenchmen £4.68million a year but he may choose to leave the current Premier League champions in June even with the offer of an improved deal.

Over the summer the club persistently tried to sign Everton left-back Leighton Baines but United manager David Moyes failed to prize the Englishman away from his former Mersey-side club.

Moyes also came close to signing left-back Fabio Coentrao on loan from Real Madrid on deadline day in order to add depth to the left-back position.

Evra has been in the media eye recently calling 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu and three other commentators ‘tramps’ on French TV.

This isn’t the first time the veteran – capped 50 times – has been in trouble with French Football Federation as he was punished for refusing to train during the 2010 World Cup which resulted in a 10 game ban.

Image courtesy of Nasmac via Flickr, with thanks.

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