Marseille full-back Patrice Evra has told RMC he almost returned to Manchester United to fulfil an ambition of playing under Jose Mourinho.
Evra, 35, left Monaco in 2006 to start an eight-year spell at United during which he won five Premier League titles, three League Cups and the Champions League.
The defender, who has won 81 caps for France, joined Juventus upon leaving Old Trafford in 2014 and then moved to Marseille in January.
However, speaking to former France teammate William Gallas, Evra revealed he came close to making a return to United, while adding that the straight-talking style of his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson -- much like that of Mourinho -- got the best out of him.
"I need coaches like Ferguson, coaches with an iron fist, because I work like that. Jose knows it," Evra said.
"We sometimes send each other texts. I won't hide it, I almost went back to Manchester.
"Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I won't go into details, but of course I would have loved to have played for Mourinho."
Evra said in February that he nearly signed with United in January, but added someone at the club blocked his potential return to Old Trafford.