It is fair to say Patrice Evra has produced some outrageous soundbites and done some bizarre things since calling time on his football career.
The former defender won multiple trophies in his time as a left back for Manchester United, Juventus and France and is now starting to find his feet in the world of punditry.
But it is the strange statements and madcap moments that fans are becoming accustomed to seeing from Evra, not scathing opinions or searing analysis from the TV studio.
Patrice Evra has produced some outrageous soundbites and bizarre things since he retired
His latest odd episode came on Thursday when he revealed himself to be a Covid-sceptic in a controversial interview given to French TV.
But what other bizarre statements and wild moments on social media has Evra served up since he decided to hang up his boots? Sportsmail takes a look…
January 2022 – Covid-scepticism
After defending the right of individuals not to be vaccinated, Evra said that he believes that the coronavirus pandemic is ‘political’.
The 40-year-old also admitted he believes the pandemic ‘creates fear’ and suggested that American billionaire Bill Gates had a role in its emergence.
‘At the moment I think we are talking too much about this Covid,’ Evra told BFM TV.
‘We have to be honest, there are people who have died of Covid, but I have the impression today that even if you are in a car accident, we are going to say it is because you have Covid.
‘For me, it is political and I have always said: “When you want to govern, and to lead people, it is with fear”. We have to be careful.’
Though not revealing whether he had had the vaccine or not, Evra insisted that anti-vaxxers should not be castigated: ‘This debate, really it is personal,’ he said. ‘I don’t understand when there are people who say: “Are you vaccinated? are you not vaccinated?”. Everyone is free to do what they want.
Evra announced himself as a Covid-sceptic on French TV in a controversial interview this week
‘I mean, it has to stop now: “Because he’s not vaccinated he’s a bad person. Because he is vaccinated, he is good”. No, everyone is free to do what they want, everyone is free to believe what they want.
‘We must allow people the right to do what they want. Because no one really knows what this is, this Covid. Where it comes from. For me it is by chance. We are not going to lie to each other. It is by chance this Covid.’
When asked to elaborate on his views, Evra added somewhat incoherently: ‘Because there is Bill Gates who already spoke about it in a conference in 2013… afterwards I’m not someone [who says] this thing was programmed but I prefer… if people spoke about it one day, because that I always speak frankly but the Covid, personally, for me, it does not scare me.’
The Frenchman, who won 81 caps for France between 2004 and 2016, appeared to have backtracked from a social media message he posted in April 2020, shortly after the pandemic first struck, in which he urged people to stay at home after he lost a family member to the virus.
Evra appeared to suggest Edouard Mendy missed out on the Lev Yashin Trophy because he’s African
December 2021 – Fury at Mendy snub
Evra jumped to the defence of Edouard Mendy last month when he claimed the decision not to award the Chelsea stopper the Lev Yashin Trophy for 2021 was racially motivated.
Despite winning the Champions League and producing incredible displays for the Blues in 2020, Mendy was overlooked with the prize going to Gianluigi Donnarumma instead.
But, speaking on Instagram, Evra appeared to suggest the reason why Mendy was snubbed was because of his race and not because Donnarumma was more worthy of the prize.
He also criticised attitudes towards the Africa Cup of Nations, which is currently ongoing in Cameroon.
The 40-year-old said: ‘Also the goalkeeper… what about Edouard Mendy? You know, but of course, African Cup, we are the monkeys so no one respects this competition.
‘We are the only competition where you have to leave your club, leave for three weeks and play that cup because in Africa we always have a little space.
‘But things will change, things will change.’
The prize went to Gianluigi Donnarumma after he helped Italy win the Euros earlier this year
November 2021 – Ready to attack Luis Suarez
Evra was racially abused by former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2011.
During the infamous game between the Reds and Manchester United at Anfield, Uruguayan Suarez called Evra an insulting Spanish N-word which sparked a bitter feud between the two players.
As a result Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing his rival.
But, speaking on the ‘Diary of a CEO’ podcast a few months ago, Evra explained how he wanted to physically attack Suarez out of revenge and one day saw him out shopping and was set to confront him.
Evra was in Manchester and ready to attack Suarez but admitted he was stopped by the sight of Suarez’s wife and children with him.
Evra (left) revealed he held back a burning desire to physically attack Luis Suarez (right with wife Sofia Balbi and daughter Delfina) when he spotted him in Manchester
Suarez (left) was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra (right) during a Liverpool vs Manchester United clash in 2011
Talking about the incident, Evra said: ‘One day I was walking in Manchester in Deansgate and my brother said “oh it’s Luis Suarez over there”. I was with two of my brothers.
‘I looked at him and I was like “That’s it, this is the moment”.
‘And he walked, and behind him I saw his kids and his wife.
‘And I turned my back. I was like “if you do something to him you can’t do this in front of his family”.’
Evra added: ‘So I don’t regret it because I think it would have ended up bad. I did nothing that day.’
September 2021 – Mocking Ronaldo with sheep
Evra decided to mock Cristiano Ronaldo last year with a hilarious social media video which showed him transporting sheep.
It came after his former team-mate allegedly moved house due to loud animal noises following his return to Old Trafford after 12 years last summer.
Evra’s Instagram video, which went to his 8.3million followers, showed him herding sheep with a whistle in a clear and direct reference to Ronaldo.
The post’s caption read: ‘Don’t worry bro @cristiano I’m moving my sheep (sheep emoji) far away from your (house emoji) shepherd mister #ilovethisgame can do everything #positive4evra @skysports’.
Evra mocked Cristiano Ronaldo in a hilarious video showing him transporting sheep
Ronaldo and his family (above) reportedly moved to a new mansion because of sheep noises
Star forward Ronaldo, 36, was initially put up in a mansion with his family after re-joining United from Juventus in August.
But the Portuguese moved to a different property, a £6million Cheshire pad with a cinema, pool and four-vehicle garage formerly owned by ex-United striker Andy Cole.
The Sun reported his move was because of particularly loud sheep disturbing Ronaldo’s equilibrium, although his press team later denied this.
Evra’s sheep video was in fact shot while he was filming a scene for Sky’s sports-comedy show A League of Their Own, coincidentally at around the same time stories about the reasons for Ronaldo’s move were reported.
July 2021 – Praising England with fish and chips
Evra posted another wacky video last summer when England looked to be on course for success at Euro 2020.
He threw his backing behind England to win their first tournament since ‘the dinosaurs were alive’ after the Three Lions thrashed Ukraine 4-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Never one to post a simple congratulations, Evra served up a viral clip in which he was sporting a red England shirt, round sunglasses and an Oasis wig in honour of the Gallagher brothers’ legendary Manchester-based former band.
He sang along to Fatboy Slim’s remix Praise You – despite the nods to Oasis – using a raw fish and bag of chips as a microphone, before smelling the fish and opening the sunroof of his car due to the bad smell.
Evra (above) praised England on their Euro 2020 run with another bizarre Instagram post
The former Manchester United defender was holding a raw fish and chanting inside his car
Evra then shouted: ‘It’s Monday! (laughs maniacally) Evrasis has been waiting for so long. Last time England won a trophy even the dinosaurs were still alive! So come on chaps, you can do this, come on! The fish is alive, the fish is alive.
Evra threw the fish and chips on the floor, adding: ‘Are you ready for that craziness, that happiness? Oh my God,’ and as the beat dropped he chanted: ‘Go England, go England, go England coming home, coming home, fish and chips, fish and chips.’
The five-time Premier League winner subsequently cried ‘I’m out’ and jumped out the sunroof of his car before climbing back in and repeating his popular social media catchphrase: ‘I love this game!’
September 2020 – Sky Sports apology
This time it was his work in the TV studio that landed Evra in hot water.
The Frenchman hinted on-air that unfounded rumours about Wilfried Zaha’s relationship with David Moyes’ daughter ruined the winger’s career at Manchester United in 2013.
The Crystal Palace star was a promising player in the Old Trafford ranks when Sir Alex Ferguson retired and Moyes replaced the legendary Scot.
But Zaha played just four times under Moyes in his debut season at Old Trafford before moving back to Palace, with Evra claiming that spending time with his then-manager’s daughter had an effect on him.
Evra said Wilfried Zaha (right)’s Manchester United career was ruined by rumours he had an affair with David Moyes’ (left) daughter
Evra (left) made the claim about Zaha and Lauren Moyes (right) while on punditry duty on Sky
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: ‘I remember what ruined his career for Manchester United is when he had this true or untrue affair with David Moyes’ daughter.
‘Because in the pre-season I remember he was playing every game but when that news came out, (he was) out of the game and he disappeared. He would be a massive trade for United.’
Presenter Kelly Cates later apologised on behalf of Sky Sports for the comments, saying: ‘We have to clarify a comment made earlier in the programme suggesting that there may have been a relationship between Wilfried Zaha and David Moyes’ daughter.
‘We understand that Wilfried Zaha has never met David Moyes’ daughter and that the claim made by Patrice was false and we apologise for any offence caused.’
Zaha has previously responded to the rumours about the suspected affair back in 2015, telling Sportsmail that he had not even met Moyes’ daughter.
August 2020 – Becoming a non-league star
While trying to make a name for himself as a pundit and on social media, Evra even turned his hand to non-league football at the weekend nearly two years ago.
The five-time Premier League winner played at left back for Brentham FC in the 11th tier of English football in the Middlesex County League.
But Evra could not help the side avoid defeat as they were beaten 3-2 by North Greenford United.
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra turned his hand to non-league football back in 2020
Footage of the former France international surfaced on social media and showed Evra has lost none of his skill.
Evra, donning the No 11 shirt, took a throw-in down the left flank and after receiving the ball back from his team-mate played a back-heel pass.
‘Thanks for letting me playing with you guys .. such a good day, don’t worry Giggsy I honoured your number the best I could,’ Evra wrote.
November 2018 – Licking and spanking a RAW CHICKEN
Many felt Evra took his social media antics a step too far over three years ago with a disgusting video of him licking a raw chicken.
The Frenchman put his skills to the test as he sucked, spanked and kissed the piece of poultry in an Instagram video shared ahead of Thanksgiving.
In the clip, the former full-back could be seen provocatively kissing the poultry as Kirko Bangz’s 2015 remix to Trey Songz’s Slow Motion blared in the background.
After pausing for just a moment, Evra decided to suck the chicken’s leg before sprinkling what appeared to be salt to add some flavour.
Evra sucked, spanked and kissed a raw chicken in an Instagram video shared ahead of Thanksgiving in 2018
Evra decided to slap the bird on its ‘behind’ continuously as he prepared it for dinner
He then gave the raw bird a slap on it’s ‘behind’. For about eight seconds Evra picked the chicken up by its legs and smacked it numerous times.
He then placed the chicken down and seductively bit the chicken’s breast. After taking one last nibble, Evra laughs and shouts his catchphrase: ‘I love this game!’
‘Happy Thanksgiving everyone!’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk