PATRICE EVRA'S AMAZING CARLOS TEVEZ TALES
Wednesday’s edition of United Review, the official match programme at Old Trafford, included an entertaining interview with club legend Patrice Evra, reflecting on the 2010 League Cup semi-final with rivals Manchester City and the club’s subsequent trophy lift at Wembley.
An unquestionable highlight of the feature are the Frenchman's memories of his friend Carlos Tevez moving to the Etihad Stadium and later facing the Reds, providing ...a rare insight into what was a controversial transfer. Here are some of Evra's best quotes from his trip down memory lane...
WHEN TEVEZ SWAPPED RED FOR BLUE
“Carlos Tevez was my close friend. But I was not pleased when he joined Manchester City in 2009. I was really annoyed because he was a great player. There are two sides to every story, I understand that and football can be complicated, but I didn’t like it when he was on the banner saying ‘Welcome to Manchester’ after he signed for City and I told him so. ‘Carlito!’ I said. ‘What are you doing? This shirt isn’t you! I have been to your house and you still have a picture of yourself wearing a United shirt near your pool table! You are a Red. You know deep in your heart that you are a Red.’”
RISKING THE WRATH OF SIR ALEX
“We joked a little, we stayed close friends and Mr Ferguson didn’t always like that, especially when he saw us pictured outside a restaurant in a newspaper. He didn’t want his players associating with those from City, who were becoming a much stronger team, but I am not just a footballer, I am a man who is loyal to his friends and Carlito was my friend.”
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES AT ONCE
“‘Listen, Carlito,’ I said. ‘We are friends but don’t try and be nice with me. Don’t shake my hand and think that everything will be fine between us.’ He was laughing. He said that City were going to knock United out, but deep down I think he still had a great affection for United. He once told me that he would always respect United fans. I know he did well for City, I know he was a great player for them, but he’d won Premier League titles and the Champions League with United, he’d played in the best team in the world. He couldn’t just forget all that.’”
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