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Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has said he wants to face Luis Suarez in his first mixed martial arts (MMA) fight
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The former France international is set to make his MMA debut with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in May in Paris
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Suarez racially abused Evra in 2011, resulting in an eight-game ban and a fine and later bit Giorgio Chiellini and Branislav Ivanovic
Patrice Evra, a legendary figure from Manchester United, has criticized ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez following the announcement of his entry into mixed martial arts (MMA). These players share a past rivalry from their time in the Premier League.
Patrice Evra is poised to make his MMA debut with the PFL
Patrice Evra, a former Manchester United player, has criticized Luis Suarez following the announcement from PFL that he will be making his debut in May.
The ex-France player will have his first match on May 23 at the Accor Arena in Paris; however, his opponent has not yet been revealed.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) said his friend, Cédric Doumbé, has been helping to train him, and his opponent will be announced soon.
“You all should be aware by now; I’m equally passionate about this game! Despite having played on the globe’s largest platforms and secured every significant title in soccer, PFL Europe Paris holds a remarkably special place for me,” stated Patrice Evra.
I’ve trained with some of the finest athletes globally for many years, and they would all agree that I’m prepared for this challenge. On May 23rd at the Accor Arena, I will deliver an extraordinary performance, so join me to witness this amazing display.
Patrice Evra calls out Luis Suarez
Soon after PFL announced this news, Evra posted on X to confirm but directed his message specifically to Luis Suarez.
“I’ve officially started training for my first fight with @PFLEurope. They will choose my opponent… When they asked whom I’d like to face, I replied: Luis Suárez. I’m willing to cover all expenses myself. He could even bite me.”
The identity of his adversary for his MMA debut remains undisclosed, yet it seems improbable that Suarez will step into the cage in May.
Evra had his prime years as a football player during his tenure at Manchester United. He was with the team from 2006 to 2014, securing five Premier League championships along with the UEFA Champions League title.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, he played 379 times. This French player also had stints at Monaco, Juventus, and Marseille. His career concluded after earning 81 international caps for France.
The relationship between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra
Evra and Suarez share a troubled past. In October 2011, during a match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield, Luis Suarez subjected Patrice Evra to racial abuse.
The Uruguayan received an eight-match ban following the incident, however, Liverpool players faced criticism for controversially sporting t-shirts to back the forward once the sentence had been announced.
Recently, Evra mentioned that he forgave Suarez and even had a conversation with him in the tunnel during the match between Juventus and Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final.
“I will never call Suarez a racist person, because I don’t know him personally. Even when we played in the Champions League final, when I was playing for Juventus, I shook his hand in the corridor and spoke to him. I forgive really fast.”
Suarez has had controversial incidents in his career. He bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic when Liverpool played the Blues in 2013.
Evra accuses FIFA of giving World Cup to Messi
In a related story,
Jagoanblog.art.co.ke
It was reported that Patrice Evra claimed FIFA “handed” the 2022 World Cup to Lionel Messi.
In the finals, Evra’s France was defeated by Messi and Argentina via penalties following an exhilarating match that finished with a score of 3-3.
When talking about whether France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, deserves more time with the team, the 43-year-old mentioned Messi.