Manchester United signing Evra

Manchester United added power to their defense by adding more power via signing Patrice Evra, a very fast defender, from AS Monaco.  His performances had a lot of people wondering if the Frenchman was a poor signing.  But in 2006-07 he was cited in the Premier League as the best left-back.  The Dakar-born player transferred to United for a fee that was not disclosed, believed to be in the £5m range with a contract to last until the summer of 2009.  He started his profession with Paris St Germain and had a short stint with Marsala and Monza before signing for Nice in 2000. He worked for two years at the club before moving to AS Monaco.  

A well-known member of the Monaco side that achieve the Champions League final in 2004, Evra followed players such as Ludovic Giuly and Fernando Morientes, and then coach Didier Deschamps, left the principality team.  He began a centre forward as a youth, before transferring to the left wing.  He was again transferred to left-back in 2003 at Monaco.

Warm Welcome for David Beckham

Patrice Evra will help welcome David Beckham then after, try to boot the former Manchester United star out of the Champions League.  David and Sir Alex Ferguson meet in February for his return to United with AC Milan.  It is the former England captain’s first return visit to the team he served with such honor before he left in 2003 after Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Even after the pair has since patched up their disparity, and shook hands in public ahead of United’s meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro a year ago, the spirited edge of the two men will guarantee a charged last 16 tie.  Evra joined United two and a half years after Beckham had left to join Real Madrid, but is well aware of Beckham’s status and will give the warmest of welcomes for a man he will probably end up marking in the first leg at the San Siro on February 16, with the return leg at Old Trafford three weeks later.