Former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra is making a dramatic career change, swapping his soccer boots for MMA gloves.
Sources have confirmed that the former French international and Manchester United legend has inked a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to compete in mixed martial arts. Evra`s initial foray into combat sports will be an amateur bout scheduled for May 23rd at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.
As of yet, no specific opponent has been named for the 43-year-old`s fighting debut.
Evra enjoyed a highly successful career on the soccer field, earning multiple accolades including being named to the PFA Team of the Year on three occasions. He was a cornerstone of the celebrated Manchester United team for nearly a decade, playing for the club from 2005 to 2014.
Reports indicate that Evra has been training alongside French MMA star Cedric Doumbe as he prepares for his transition to the PFL`s Smart Cage. Evra himself has even hinted at a dream opponent.
He shared his intentions on social media, stating:
“BREAKING: I’m officially training for my first fight with PFL Europe. They will pick my opponent. They asked who I wanna face. I said Luis Suarez. I’ll pay out of pocket, he can even bite me.”
The upcoming PFL event in Paris, featuring Evra`s debut, is also slated to include a main event lightweight contest between Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan, as well as a fight between former UFC competitor Taylor Lapilus and Ali Taleb.
Oliver Croft