Sir Alex Ferguson's speechless reaction to Jonny Evans transfer explains return

20 July 2023 , 01:00

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Manchester United fans were stunned when Jonny Evans re-joined the club - but were they right to sell him in the first place?

Evans, 35, has signed a short-term deal with the Red Devils. The centre-back started training with the first-team squad after leaving Leicester in June and has now become a paid employee, with Erik ten Hag insisting the transfer "is a benefit for both sides."

Evans made his second debut for United during the pre-season friendly against Lyon on Wednesday and will be part of the club's upcoming tour of the United States. It's unclear whether the Northern Ireland international will be handed a long-term deal.

Although Evans' return to Old Trafford came as a surprise to a lot of people, legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was speechless when his successor Louis van Gaal sold him in 2015. That's according to Evans' international manager Michael O'Neill.

Evans graduated from United's academy and became an important member of Ferguson's squad after loan spells with Royal Antwerp and Sunderland. He often filled in for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic when either of them were unavailable.

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Evans played 198 games for United and won 11 trophies - including three Premier League titles and the Champions League - before joining West Brom in 2015. The Baggies didn't pay much for Evans, with reports suggesting the transfer fee was £8million.

One man who couldn't believe Evans' departure was Ferguson, according to O'Neill. He made the revelation while speaking to the Belfast Telegraph in 2017.

"In September after last year's Euros, there was a conference in France for the coaches and Sir Alex was there talking about it and he openly said to me that he could not believe Van Gaal had sold Jonny from United," said the Northern Ireland manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson's speechless reaction to Jonny Evans transfer explains return

Sir Alex Ferguson is a big fan of Evans (Getty Images)

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"Because having seen him come through, he felt Jonny would spend his whole career at United or certainly to the latter stages of his career.

"I think there were a lot of factors why he ended up at West Brom. In the previous two years he had an injury and at Man Utd they had Ferdinand and Vidic and then Jonny and there was a succession plan that didn't happen because of the change in manager.

"At that time he was on the radar of other big clubs. I know that for a fact but they possibly had reservations about him because of the injuries he had and because he maybe hadn't played as much in the previous 18 months. That was just unfortunate."

If O'Neill is to be believed, Ferguson will be delighted at Evans' return. "I know him for a long time, so I know his place was here, in Manchester," Ten Hag told MUTV when asked why Evans has re-joined the club.

"He came to train with us, to work on his fitness, and when I said, 'Yeah'. Not all the players are in - internationals are out, still having their break, so I thought it was a good idea to help each other out. Jonny can work on his fitness and he can help us out.

"The level, we know he is a really experienced player but also a very good person, a big personality, and I think he has big authority as well. He will help the young players especially. It is a benefit for both sides."