Patrice Evra explains why Sir Alex Ferguson threatened to rip up his contract

Patrice Evra has recalled the time a furious Sir Alex Ferguson threatened to rip up his Manchester United contract.

Evra spent eight years playing for United, racking up 379 appearances and winning five Premier League titles. Signed from Monaco for a fee of £5.5 million, he established himself as one of the best left-backs in the world.

Evra always had a strong relationship with Ferguson but he crossed him back in 2009 when Carlos Tevez had left the club to join Manchester City.

Tevez spent two seasons at United and was Wayne Rooney's favourite ever strike partner but caused an almighty stir when he signed for rivals City in a £25 million switch just as it looked like he was going to stay put at Old Trafford.

Some United players washed their hands of the Argentine but Evra was still close with him and went out for a meal with him when they were rivals.

They got photographed together and a livid Ferguson gave Evra a stern warning the following day.

"Tevez is my brother, so when he joined City, I remember we went to a place called San Carlo and the paparazzi take a picture," Evra said Rio Ferdinand's FIVE YouTube channel.

"So, the next morning Ferguson like called me into his office and he said 'If I see you again outside with Tevez, I'm going to rip your contract.'"

Image: Getty

Ferguson reacted like this in a number of similar scenarios. There's the infamous story of how Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his wrath after breaking one of his golden rules after a Manchester derby in 2003.

In the final derby at Maine Road, United were beaten 3-1 after a brace from Shaun Goater and a strike from Nicolas Anelka.

After the game, Van Nistelrooy is said to have swapped shirts with a City player and came in the away dressing room with a sky blue jersey.

As recalled by both Ferdinand and Gary Neville in separate instances, Ferguson told his £30 million striker where to go.

Image: Getty

"We got beat 3-1 at Maine Road with Shaun Goater scoring two goals," Ferdinand recalled on an episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE.

"That was the first derby I played and the moment I realised how big it was was in the changing room after.

"We walked in and the manager shut the door. It was quiet and then all of a sudden he just erupted.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was the God then, walked in with a City shirt in his hand and I remember Sir Alex Ferguson just absolutely unloaded on him.

"He destroyed him, saying: 'If I ever see any of you walking with a City shirt ever again you'll never play for this club.'