"He betrayed me" - Patrice Evra reveals another mishap by Ed Woodward

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has revealed how Ed Woodward’s broken promise on allowing him to leave in the summer of 2014 left him feeling “betrayed”.

What did he say?

The recently retired defender left the Red Devils for Juventus just two months after signing a one-year contract extension five seasons ago. Now, the former France international has opened up on how Woodward’s failure to honour an agreement had left him feeling hurt, and resolved his mind into making the decision to leave.

He said: “Before the end of that season Ed told me: ‘Patrice, you’re going to stay for another year because we’ve got an option in your contract,’ but I told him I needed to leave because of family reasons. He shook my hand and said he understood.

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“Then in May I was having dinner in Dubai on my birthday and had a text from my agent. He told me to go somewhere quiet and sent me a message with the statement from United saying they were pleased to renew my contract for another year. I went mad, I was really disappointed.

“I called Ed and swore on the phone, even threatened him. He said I couldn’t talk to the director of football like that and that he was going to fine me. I’d already said to my wife we were going to leave, but inside I didn’t ever really feel I could. That gave me a little push.  I understood Ed, but I didn’t understand why he betrayed me. He should’ve called me to explain. Without that it’s difficult to know what would’ve happened.”

Another Woodward failing

As United continue to struggle on the pitch, much of the blame has been proportioned to Woodward’s inabilities to steer the ship properly. But in this instance, United’s executive vice-chairman has shown himself to be equally inept at things off the pitch.

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Forget signing players, alienating one of United’s finest and most consistent players under Sir Alex Ferguson reeks of someone who perhaps doesn’t quite grasp the intricacies of dealing with footballers on a human level.

Whether Evra was on the decline or in the twilight of his career was irrelevant. The Frenchman deserved a send-off befitting of someone who had seen it and done it all at Old Trafford, but instead was left to fight a bitter war with the United hierarchy. Another blotch on Woodward’s copybook.

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