Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed he and Rio Ferdinand still mock Patrice Evra over his derby day debut shocker in 2006.
The Frenchman went on to become one of the best left-backs in Premier League history but struggled in his first display for the club after joining from Monaco in 2006 for £5.5million.
Evra was all smiles when he signed for Man United but that changed after a chastening display against Man City
His intial impression at Old Trafford was not ideal as he flopped against rivals Man City.
Evra had a torrid time in a 3-1 loss to City in January 2006 and it’s a performance some of his teammates haven’t been able to forget.
And Rooney admitted he and Ferdinand haven’t let him live it down.
He told The Times: “It was a big game for the fans but from a players’ point of view, the matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were bigger — Liverpool, because they were Liverpool (especially for me as a Scouser), and Chelsea and Arsenal because you knew they would be so difficult and intense.
“In fact, my first derby was completely unmemorable. I came on as a substitute for the last 13 minutes of a 0-0 draw; I have a pretty good recall of most matches I played in but my mind is blank about that one.
“I remember my second derby, though. We won 2-0 at the Etihad and I opened the scoring when Gary Neville played in a low cross. It took a little deflection off Richard Dunne and I got to the near post and scored with my right foot.
Evra eventually won over Rooney and Ferdinand despite a shocking start
“You only need to look at the City side that day to understand how they’ve changed as a club, and my first 12 Manchester derbies in the league brought eight wins and only one defeat.
“That was in January 2006, at the Etihad, when Patrice Evra made his United debut and Fergie hooked him at half-time after Trevor Sinclair ran him ragged. I remember, after the game, talking about him with Rio Ferdinand. “Who’s this? He’s terrible!” Both of us laugh with Patrice about that now.
“He proved to be an incredible signing, but I think both he and Nemanja Vidic — who had also just signed and struggled — found it difficult to cope with the intensity of matches and training in the Premier League. They got up to speed, but I remember for the first month in training they were dying after every session.”
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