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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

Patrice Evra snubs Wayne Rooney as he names ultimate teammate XI

Patrice Evra delivered a snub to Manchester United's greatest ever goal scorer as he named an ultimate XI of his former teammates.

Red Devils icon Evra appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Carragher for Arsenal's defeat at Sheffield United.

After the game, he was asked to name a fantasy XI of his former teammates - but there was no room for Wayne Rooney.

Instead, Evra partnered Cristiano Ronaldo with Carlos Tevez in attack - despite the Argentine's acrimonious departure from Old Trafford which saw him sign for the Red Devils' cross-city rivals.

"This one was a tough choice, Tevez or Wayne Rooney?" admitted Evra.

Evra left Rooney out of his team (Sky Sports)

"But it comes from my heart, even if I am a close friend to Wayne... I played with Tevez in Manchester and Juventus , and what a player.

"He is a warrior and when we had him and Wayne up front, I was feeling sorry for the defenders."

Evra selected Edin van der Sar in goal, with Dani Alves, Rio Ferdinand and Georginio Chiellini joining the Frenchman in a back four - omitting United legends Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic.

Of Neville, Evra said: "I could have had Gary Neville, but Dani Alves is more talented!"

Evra's ultimate XI of former teammates (Sky Sports)

Ji-Sung Park was a surprise inclusion on the right-hand side of midfield, with Evra explaining: "He was a solider.

"The 2008 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona , in both legs, he was man of the match. He didn't play the final after that but he is definitely one of my soldiers."

A central midfield duo of Paul Scholes and Andrea Pirlo are in the engine room with Ryan Giggs unsurprisingly on the left flank.

Evra also named James Milner as his toughest ever opponent, rather than Lionel Messi.

"He frustrated me because I’m an attacking defender. I was like 'just go on attack," Evra explained.

"When I played the derby, I had him always up against me. Messi, I could deal with him."

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