Patrice Evra, the renowned former defender for Manchester United and the French national team, is preparing for his professional mixed martial arts debut next month.
The 43-year-old is scheduled to compete in a bout at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Europe event taking place in Paris on May 23, held at the Accor Arena.
Evra has reportedly been engaged in combat sports training for nearly a decade and has been intensifying his preparation for his upcoming competitive fight alongside his friend, PFL standout Cedric Doumbe.
Details regarding Evra`s opponent for the event have not yet been publicly announced. Commenting on his transition, Evra stated:
“You guys should know by now, I love this game too. I`ve performed on the world`s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me.”
He added:
“I`ve been training alongside the best in the world for years and they`ll also tell you I`m ready for this. I`m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on May 23, so come watch the spectacle.”
PFL CEO Pete Murray also expressed excitement about Evra`s upcoming fight:
“I`m told he loves this game as much as us, and we`ll find out on 23 May! We`re incredibly excited to have the superstar that is Patrice Evra fight under the PFL banner, as we`re all about exciting match-ups and making history.”
During his illustrious football career, Evra spent eight-and-a-half successful years at Manchester United, securing five Premier League titles among numerous other accolades.
Following his time at United, he joined Juventus in 2014 and officially retired from football six years ago. His final professional appearances were during a brief stint with West Ham.
