Patrice Evra has revealed he left Manchester United back in 2014 due to a breakdown in his relationship with Ed Woodward. The former France international, who announced his retirement from playing earlier this week, ended an eight-year association with United back in 2014 by joining Juventus, despite having signed a new one-year deal with the Red Devils a few months earlier.
Evra has now revealed that Woodward had agreed to let him leave the club, despite United holding an option to extend his deal, only for the executive vice-chairman to go back on his word. The 38-year-old confirmed he was considering staying at United before learning that Woodward had activated the clause without informing him.
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“Before the end of that season Ed told me: ‘Patrice, you’re going to stay for another year because we’ve got an option in your contract,’ but I told him I needed to leave because of family reasons. He shook my hand and said he understood,” Evra told Sky Sports. “Then in May I was having dinner in Dubai on my birthday and had a text from my agent.
He told me to go somewhere quiet and sent me a message with the statement from United saying they were pleased to renew my contract for another year. I went mad, I was really disappointed.” Evra has now revealed he has since made up with Woodward and he would be open to taking up a coaching position with United in the future, but for the time being he is happy to enjoy his retirement.
“I will finish my coaching badges,” he added. “Sir Alex Ferguson before he retired told me ‘two of my players will be great managers’, and mentioned me and Ryan Giggs. “Ive been talking with Ed about football director and stuff, but not yet. When I’m back for the club I want to sacrifice my life again, but you have to be ready to do that and be honest with yourself.”
