Paul Scholes wanted Patrice Evra to leave Man Utd on a free transfer

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes had apparently wanted an Alex Ferguson signing to leave the club on a free transfer, the player revealed.

French international Patrice Evra, who arrived from Monaco in January 2006 for a fee of £5m admitted that he didn’t leave the best first impression on his new teammates. Evra’s signing raised eyebrows almosy immediately in training among some of the senior members of the squad.

Ferguson played a key role in recruiting stars such as Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford. However, some of his less-celebrated acquisitions had also managed to create significant influence on the club’s success.

What did Paul Scholes say to Patrice Evra?

In an interview with Betfair, Evra recounted and said: “I love to be challenged in my life. I think that’s when you see the best version of myself.”

The Frenchman added, “I’ll be honest with you, players like Paul Scholes, they said: ‘Patrice I think you were a joke! I think we should send you back for free to Monaco!”

Evra’s Determination Pays Off

Instead of being discouraged, Evra embraced the challenge and worked hard to adapt to the demands of English football.

Evra’s determination paid off. Over his eight years at Old Trafford, he earned a Champions League winners’ medal in his second season and won five Premier League titles. With 379 appearances for United, his influence was undeniable. He later enjoyed success at Juventus, where he added two more league titles to his name. After additional spells at Marseille and West Ham United, Evra retired from football in 2018 at age 37.

On the other hand, Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United‘s most successful manager. His tenure saw him secure 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, and 2 Champions League trophies.

A key part of his success was his recruitment policy, which rarely missed the mark.