Soccer:Patrice Evra has revealed Alex Ferguson talked him out of leaving Manchester United last summer. The French full-back admits he returned from the 2010 World Cup - where he found himself at the centre of controversy following a strike within Les Bleus' camp - with his heart set on securing a move away from Old Trafford.
He claims Inter Milan and Real Madrid had expressed an interest and the time felt right, after four years with United, to try something new.
Evra informed Ferguson of his decision, but was happy to sit down with his manager and discuss the situation. Those talks ended with Evra opting to stay in England, and he believes the right call was made eventually.
"Sometimes you have to make a choice in your life and there was an approach from two big clubs, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, and I just had a chat about it with the boss," said Evra.
"After the World Cup, I'd told him that I wanted to go, but when I went to his house we talked a lot and in the end he didn't have to persuade me to stay because my heart wanted to stay.
"He just said, 'Pat, it's the greatest news you want to stay because United are the biggest club in the world and you have a lot of respect here for myself, your team-mates, the fans. I don't know why you want to move to another club. But I think you've made the right choice to stay here'.
"I'm very close to Sir Alex and have a lot of respect for him, and a lot of respect for myself. It wasn't anything incredible, it was just normal.
"The boss has to be the boss, but he also has to look like he's the dad of everyone. I made the right choice and I'm so happy. It was an easy decision because, if I am honest, I knew I wanted to stay at this club and achieve more."
Evra is now urging France team-mate Samir Nasri to join him at Old Trafford from Arsenal. Nasri's future is in doubt after he refused to sign a new contract with only one year left on his current deal.
The 24-year-old has voiced concerns about the Gunners' ability to compete for silverware, and has been strongly linked with both United and rivals Manchester City.
City might be able to offer more money, but Evra has no doubt which club would give his international colleague the greater chance for glory.
"I remember I made a little joke saying that he's a prince now but if he wants to be the king then he has to join Man United," Evra said in The Sun. "But that's the reality - and I've told him that. I've said, 'If you want to win trophies, you have to come here.'
"In five years, I've won 12 trophies and I don't know if I'd have won more than that with another club. So I just told him the truth."
Evra's comments re-open the link with United after manager Ferguson had indicated he expected Nasri to sign elsewhere - with most reports suggesting that meant City. Evra thinks that would be the wrong move.
"If he goes to City, it's his choice," he added. "But I know, as a player, if I have Manchester United and Manchester City, I'd go straight away for United."
