Paul Scholes wanted Man Utd legend to 'leave on a free' after he first signed for the club

Some future club legends hit the ground running with a Man of the Match-worthy debut. Others, however, take a little longer to settle in.

Patrice Evra was certainly in the second camp, as the former Manchester United left-back claims that he was laughed at during his first few months at Carrington.

The Frenchman arrived at United in January 2006, having been signed from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco for £5.5 million.

According to the man himself, it took him a long time to meet the club's famously high standards, with many of his new teammates initially wondering why the club had bothered to sign him.

In an interview with Betfair, Evra said: "I love to be challenged in my life. I think that's when you see the best version of myself."

The Frenchman added: "I'll be honest with you, players like Paul Scholes, they said: 'Patrice I think you were a joke! I think we should send you back for free to Monaco!'".

Far from being intimidated by such comments, Evra worked tirelessly to get up to speed, developing the physical game he needed in order to thrive in England's top flight.

The 41-year-old recounted: "I remember some players like Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney they were laughing at me in training when people were pushing me down because I needed to adapt my football.

"I was a skilful player, I didn't know that first you needed to be strong. So first I went in the gym, which I never did while I was playing in France."

He added: "When people talk about me, it's not like a need them to surprise myself but that's when I think, okay guys, now it's show time."

As we all know, Sir Alex's gamble on the French international paid off in the long-run.

Evra would stay at Old Trafford for eight years, earning a Champions League winners medal in his second full season, as well as lifting five Premier League titles.

After playing 379 times for the Reds, he would go on to enjoy a successful spell at Juventus, where he'd pick up a further two league titles.

Stints at Marseille and West Ham United followed before he eventually called time on his career in 2018 at the age of 37.

Topics: Paul Scholes, Manchester United, Premier League, Patrice Evra

Tom Fenton