Patrice Evra has been widely tipped to join Internazionale in the summer, but his agent has not ruled out the possibility of staying at Manchester United.
The France international has been at Old Trafford since January 2006, and he has gone on to establish himself as the first choice left fullback in five Premier League winning sides and the team which won the UEFA Champions League in 2008. However, as he approaches his 33rd birthday, it is fair to suggest he is no longer at his peak.
Despite this he remains United’s best option amidst their transitional period, with Alexander Buttner, the uncapped Dutchman, not in the same class. Southampton’s teenage sensation Luke Shaw has been earmarked as the long-term solution, but at 19, he is still very much learning the game despite his club valuing him at around £35million.
So with Evra out of contract at the end of the season, United are keen to tie him to a new deal so he can extend his stay at the club. And even though Inter, who have recent lured Nemanja Vidic from the Reds, are keen to offer the fullback a return to Italy where he previously played for Monza, he could yet stick with David Moyes and co.
“Patrice has to decide what to do with his future,” his agent Federico Pastorello told Tele Radio Stereo. “He is very close to United, but lately things have changed a little. Could he come back to Italy? Patrice has always highly regarded Serie A and so, if he were to leave England, it could be a possibility. But at the moment it is still too early to talk.”
Although Inter would fancy their chances of signing Evra, especially with Vidic on board, there is likely to be more interest in his signature should be decide to leave England. Monaco, who sold him to the Old Trafford club for £5million, have also been linked, whilst reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain are also thought to be keen.
Meanwhile, Evra will have to watch from the stands as United welcome Bayern Munich to Manchester for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night. The defender is serving a one-match suspension, so Buttner will deputise in the daunting task of taking on Arjen Robben and the rest of the reigning European champions.
