Rio Ferdinand let’s Manchester United deal slip, is Patrice Evra returning?
By Mike Parrott
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand might have let a transfer slip by asking if other United legend Patrice Evra is returning to Old Trafford.
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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has been asking a lot of questions recently regarding the January transfer window. Most notably, he reached out to former teammate and United legend Patrice Evra and asked if the Frenchman is returning to Old Trafford. Evra has been linked back with a move to United after reports surfaced that he was looking for a return back to the English Premier League.
The legend
Patrice Evra is a Manchester United legend. The attacking wing-back joined United in the January transfer window 10 years ago in 2006 for £6.8 Million. Evra didn’t have a great start at United and fought constantly for the starting spot with Gabriel Heinze. However, the Frenchman wound up victorious and made the left-back position his own under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Evra went on to win one Champions League title with United. As well as a plethora of Premier League titles, Carling Cups, Community Shields, and a Club World Cup. He then went on to leave United for Juventus in the Summer of 2014 after the appointment of Louis Van Gaal at United, and the signing of Luke Shaw.
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The left-back was known throughout the world for his attacking abilities and essentially played as a winger for United. Similar to Antonio Valencia currently at United. His link-up play with United legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, and Wayne Rooney made the left-wing of United’s the most dangerous in the world.
Would he fit?
Right now United don’t have a cemented starter at left-back. Manager Jose Mourinho has tried many different players such as Shaw, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, and Matteo Darmian. However, none of them have made the position theirs. So could Evra take some minutes away from the makeshift left-backs?
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The United nostalgia in me says yes. It’s great to see a United legend retire with the club, something we haven’t done recently. Most notably with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. But could Evra still play meaningful minutes at the left-back position?
Should he come back?
In my opinion, Patrice Evra could still make a positive difference for Manchester United as the back-up to Luke Shaw at left-back. We need attacking on that left side with Shaw being hesitant to attack maybe due to his previous injury. And with only Blind and Darmian getting minutes at LB, attacking is sorely needed there. It’s a United fans dream and would seem a bad decision at a first glance. But Evra could still produce while instilling the winning mentality from the United Golden years.
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Here’s hoping that Rio Ferdinand could help us out one more time by bringing the legend back to Old Trafford. Even if it will just become a retirement tour.