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, Soccernet reports.
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.
“’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.”
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.
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