23 Jul 2014

Evra leaving Man U

4:24 pm on 23 July 2014

The French defender Patrice Evra is leaving Manchester United after eight-and-a-half seasons to join Italian champions Juventus.

The Serie A club has confirmed they had agreed a $2.5 million fee for the 33-year-old, who signed a two-year contract.

The move means the chance of Champions League football this season for Evra, who would have missed out on Europe's top club competition had he stayed at Old Trafford after their seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

Born in Senegal and raised in France, Evra began his professional career in Italy when he signed for Serie C side Massara as a 17-year-old in 1998.

He moved to Monza in Serie B the following season, returned to France to play for Nice and then Monaco before joining Manchester United in January 2006.

Evra went on to win five English Premier league titles at Old Trafford, plus the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2008.

Italian clubs are making a habit of signing ageing players from the English Premier League.

AC Milan signed Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, 31, during the January close season and Evra's former United team-mate Nemanja Vidic, 32, has also moved to Serie A, joining Inter Milan.

Evra's move has come at an uncertain time for Juventus following last week's shock resignation of coach Antonio Conte, who won three successive Serie A titles in as many seasons in charge.

Evra's departure from Old Trafford following those of Vidic and Rio Ferdinand leaves new United manager Louis van Gaal short of experience in defence.

They signed 19-year-old England left back Luke Shaw from Southampton for $60 million but Van Gaal will be looking to add at least one established central defender to his squad before the new season.