Good luck, Patrice!

By Chris
July 22 2014

Patrice Evra’s £1.2million move to Juventus makes perfect sense. Here’s three reasons why. 

1. Luke Shaw
United’s £30million acquisition of prospect Shaw has caused much excitement amongst the Old Trafford faithful, and marked a huge statement of intent from the club. At 19-years-of-age, United will regard Shaw as an investment that promises to pay dividends for many, many years to come – and van Gaal is unlikely to waste much time in relying heavily on the attack-minded England international. Named in last season’s PFA Team of the Year, left-back Shaw looked certain to wrestle first-team responsibilities away from Evra.

2. It’s a time of massive change
Further to Shaw’s arrival, Evra’s departure comes at a time of great change at Old Trafford. With Louis van Gaal at the helm and changes afoot, long-standing club stalwarts like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have either moved on or quit the playing staff. With United’s new boss set to make his mark, and speculation rife regarding future arrivals, Evra’s departure spares the Dutchman the difficulty of leaving out a player who has made a massive contribution to the club over the last eight and a half years. Having made over 370 appearances, the player’s achievements speak for themselves, but a feeling was gathering momentum that the United era with which Evra will be associated has passed.

3. Juventus provides a massive challenge
Many United fans are looking at Evra’s move to Juventus as a gentle step back for the Frenchman - a move away from a league he initially struggled to adapt to, but ultimately mastered.  This viewpoint, however, ignores some key facts. The 33-year-old is joining Juventus, one of Europe’s most famous clubs, who won Serie A at a canter last season, amassing a jaw-dropping 102 points. The move maintains Evra’s place in the Uefa Champions League; and the opportunity to a new defensive unit alongside the likes of the formidable Giorgio Chiellini is a huge, exciting challenge for the five-time Premier League winner.