After ‘Pogback’ could we be seeing the ‘Evraturn’?
That is ‘the return of Patrice Evra’, which may not have quite the success as a hashtag as Pogback but, then again, the former Manchester United full-back is unlikely to cost €105million should he wind up back at Old Trafford.
The possibility of the Frenchman following Pogba out of Juventus has been gaining traction this week, with reports in Italy suggesting the Old Lady are reluctant to offer the evergreen 35-year-old a new contract.
Matteo Darmian’s lining out at left-back against West Ham United as Luke Shaw returns to fitness was a sign that, while Jose Mourinho has shored up his defence, the left side is still a little light.
The experienced Evra would be a superb back-up and mentor to Shaw and to those who baulk at his age, two words: ‘Zlatan Ibrahimovic’.
The possibility of a return after three years has certainly got one former team-mate excited, with Rio Ferdinand taking to Instagram to ask Evra if he is “coming home”.
The pair played together at Old Trafford for eight seasons, winning five League titles and a Champions League. While Ferdinand, three years Evra’s senior, has retired to the punditry couch, he would appear to think Evra still has plenty to offer.
It is no coincidence Ferdinand inquired of Evra’s movements via Instagram, the Frenchman becoming something of a star of the social network in recent times. His New Year’s Eve birthday wishes to Alex Ferguson will have done nothing to dampen speculation he could be returning to Old Trafford.
However, beyond some monkeying around, he is yet to respond to these latest rumours.
