Patrice makes perfect

James Robson

May 28, 2008

SIR Alex Ferguson is determined to tie down the future of Patrice Evra before heading off on his summer holidays.

The French international has just one year remaining on his contract and is being courted by Europe's leading clubs.

AC Milan have made it clear they want to sign the defender when he becomes a free agent at the end next of season and will offer a big -money deal to lure him to Serie A.

But Ferguson is confident he can convince Evra that his future remains at Old Trafford after turning the 27-year-old into arguably the best left-back in Europe.

The United manager is off to the south of France for his annual holiday next week, and has already handed chief executive David Gill a list of the targets he wants to add to his Premier League and Champions League-winning squad.

Sevilla pair Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alvez are understood to be high on that list, but Ferguson's priority is preventing Evra from walking away after showing so much faith in the left- back since signing him from Monaco in 2006.

Stumbling

The player is so far refusing to commit his future to United, with the main stumbling block being his personal demands of around £70,000 a week.

He is aware that he can get that much if he holds out to the end of his contract and moves to Italy or Spain. And a good display at Euro 2008 could make it even harder for United to resist his demands.

"A lot of people say I am the best left-back in the world," he said. "I know my capacity and if you work hard you can do well.

"My agent and United know my situation. I have one year left and I don't want to speak about my future."

Even if he is stalling over a new deal, Evra has given United hope that he will stay, revealing the crucial role Ferguson has played in his development after a difficult start in England. He said: "French football is so different to the English, which is quicker and more physical.

"I just wanted to walk into the team and I did that. I was very confident with my capacity, but I was angry with myself for not showing my best.

"My first six months did not see the best of me, but he (Ferguson) said: 'Pat, relax. Next year you'll do better.'"

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Andy Bergen, Bergen, Norway (28/05/2008 at 12:00)

If he wants 70 K, give him 70 K. He's worth it!
If he leaves we'll have to buy a replacement, pay him wages and give him time to settle. If ever there was a "non-brainer", this is it.
Stick him in a room with SAF, and don't let him out until he's signed for five years.

Sparky, Salford (28/05/2008 at 12:32)

Couldn't agree more Andy. I still can't understand why we only gave him a 3.5 year contract in the beginning. Anyone who saw him play at Monaco knew he was class despite a bad start with us?

Gillian England (28/05/2008 at 12:41)

He is a good player
sign him up !! for sure!

Robbo, N2409 (28/05/2008 at 12:50)

No arguing about it, Evra IS the best left-back in the world. 70k a week? That's nothing for a player of his standing. Money not there? Well then, sell Fletch and O'Pie. Problem solved.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (28/05/2008 at 13:49)

In any other year, Pat would have walked the PotY award !!

& To think, that money grabbing argie (who playd in the same position) was once PotY ..... by comparison their levels of perfomance are a million miles apart!!

That said, if Pat is prepared to leave (just for money) then we have misjudged him also. We have to be mindful that many europeans have no allegiance to United. He'll never have it as good anywhere else but if it's greenbacks that he's after then so be it!!

i hope not !

Ouiouinho, Chicago, Illinois, USA (28/05/2008 at 13:50)

The club needs to either cough up the furball and give Evra exactly what he wants, or sell him NOW and go get a replacement like Christian Pander. All the drama that went with negotiations over Wes Brown's contract was completely unnecessary. I'd much rather United keep players who really love the club and show it on the pitch, like the aforementioned, instead of put up with the relentless crybaby greed of pretty Cristiano and his agent.

Brian Taylor (28/05/2008 at 14:15)

What are United playing at? This is typical of their incompetent negotiation skills! What more is Evra supposed to do? He is well worth £70K a week in today's footballing terms. Sign him up now! As has been said before, a no brainer if ever there was one!

Brian Taylor (28/05/2008 at 14:23)

Balders, you are wrong in only one sense. United should pay the player what's he's worth & Evra ia easily worth £70K a week in today's money. How would you feel if your employer refused to pay you what you know you're worth & your performances justified? Remember loyalty is a TWO-WAY street!

stevey0009, Denton, Manchester (28/05/2008 at 14:27)

I hope Evra stays because he is a great left-back, but if its all about the money then i must say that he's not like he used to be, he used to play for the team not for the wage.

then agen in a world like today were u got players on 120k a week (more than 6 times wot i make in a year) then it goes to show that the players don't love the sport no more, just the money...

for example the Wes Brown situation went out of hand but in the end he found the love for football..

chris spence, Altrincham (28/05/2008 at 14:37)

Are people honestly saying that if they could get themselves a wage rise they wouldn't because they love the firm so much. Evra has put the graft in and made a massive contribution to this season, it's only right that he should be rewarded. It shows character to overcome his poor start to his United career. Playing for a big club sometimes break what seems like a good player and we've seen that many times over the years.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (28/05/2008 at 15:00)

Brian, i'm not saying he shouldn't be paid it (if that is the correct amount ??!!) or is right/wrong to demand it or whether he deserves it or not!

ftr, imo he does deserve it & should have parity with the others on that level !

BUT..... don't believe everything you read as it may be that he wants silly,silly money OR even no matter what Utd are prepared to pay him weekly he'd rather have a big signing on fee for going elsewhere !!

aka, he's already decided he's leaving!! who knows, we certainly don't.....so it's a case of wait & see !

happy days still !

stevey0009, Denton, Manchester (28/05/2008 at 15:37)

I'm not sayin he doesn't deserve 70k a week but United has already offered a pay rise but coz Evra's asking for more United are gonna try and bargin with him. but to be truthful they all get paid to much i mean, rio, ronny, lampard etc... there on 120k a week and thats madness, i'd take 120k a year and i'll b extatic

Gerry, Glastonbury (28/05/2008 at 16:39)

Best LB in Europe now. Worth every penny and true to United's style. Love this boy, what a superb athlete. He's had a tremendous season and was outstanding in the Euro final.

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (28/05/2008 at 18:21)

Trouble is, you can't have it both ways. Let me explain. United are Champions of Europe an arguably the "biggest" club in the world, fact. To be the biggest or best club in the world you need the best players. To get the best players you must pay the going rate. Simple. If Evra is the best, and I've seen no better left back around, then he will command the best wages. We pay those wages, we keep him, we stay at the top. We don't want to pay those wages, he's goes to another big club who will pay them, and we get a cheaper opton who is not as good. So we are a worse team and get knocked off top spot. It's simple economics. If we let him go purely because we are outbid by another club, then we will soon drop down the pecking order. If JT is worth £120k aweek at Chelsea and Rio £100k a week at OT, then Evra IS worth 70k. End of. I've got a great idea where the money can be found, stop paying Fletcher and O'shea £40k a week each. They're both rubbish and now we've got Hargreaves and Anderson we don't need them.

Demo, Glossop (28/05/2008 at 19:13)

give him 70k if brown is getting 50 or 60 and fletch/oshea are near that then evra is well worth it!

defo best left back at the minute and would hate to lose little patty. sure he wouldnt wanna walk away from united!!!!

COLIN,, Canada (28/05/2008 at 23:41)

None of us knows what's going on behind the scenes so the speculation is worthless. I hate these articles and as I've said before, we would have more fun discussing who we think will be traded and who we would like to see come in. We know how much our pot is and we can guess pretty closely what each player is worth. Saha is crocked, we think but how much would a team like City risk paying for him. When you think about it, a team like United can't afford to have him on the roster as we need to make room for another striker so you take what you can get. May even be as low as 6 mill but now the pot is 56 mill. Add Sly, JOS and perhaps Wes into the mix. So now what is the pot? We need 20 mill for Carlito so maybe the sale of players will cover his 20 mill. Any speculation?

bellion's boots,, Amsterdam (30/05/2008 at 14:40)

For Fegie's sake get the man, signed up!!
It's not his fault he was signed on the 'cheap'!!
Whether it's 60k/ 70k give it t; him!; whatever!!

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