Football
ESPN staff 9y

Patrice Evra: Alex Ferguson was desperate to keep Paul Pogba at Utd

Juventus left-back Patrice Evra says that Sir Alex Ferguson was powerless to prevent Paul Pogba from leaving Manchester United and was fully aware of the midfielder's precocious ability.

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Evra, 33, followed in Pogba's footsteps by joining the Bianconeri from United earlier this summer and hopes that he can enjoy similar success at the Italian champions after eight successful years at Old Trafford.

The France international says he is delighted to have teamed up with Pogba once again and has revealed his admiration for Ferguson, under whom he won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. 

#INSERT type:image caption:Pogba has established himself as one of the world's most exciting talents since leaving Manchester United. END#

"'La Pioche' [Pogba] is like a son to me," Evra told La Repubblica. "Sir Alex Ferguson sent me to his house to convince him to stay [at Manchester United] -- he wept, he did not sleep, because he knew that he could become better than Vieira, but he had decided.

"Ferguson knew that Pogba would become very strong, but also that he could not force the issue.

"Ferguson was at the heart of everything, he made sure that United was a family with a culture, a philosophy -- we won for this, not because we were the most talented.

"I also say this of the Glazers -- it takes a family, one that respects the history of the club, who feels the pressure of the past.

"I have suffered a lot for David Moyes, a great person, but even with Ryan Giggs [as caretaker at the end of last season] things were different."

#INSERT type:image caption:Evra hopes to reach a fifth Champions League final with Juventus. END#

Moyes' successor Louis van Gaal spent over 150 million pounds on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera this summer -- but Evra is unsure whether they possess the strength of character required to convert United back into the frontrunners of English football.

"Now there are so many strong players, but I do not know if they are for Manchester -- for this club you have to sacrifice everything. That is the culture that I had rediscovered at Juve."

Evra has started three of Juventus' five consecutive league victories this season and the France international hopes that under the tutelage of Massimiliano Allegri, the Old Lady can finally challenge for the Champions League title. 

"I live in the present, because the past is a door to regrets and the future is one to anxiety. And I do not sell dreams to the fans, but, why not?

"It's a competition that is so crazy that is seems incredible to have played in four finals."

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