Man Utd hero Patrice Evra says he was sexually abused aged just 13
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has bravely admitted to being sexually abused by a teacher aged just 13.
Evra, now 40, was one of the finest left-backs of his generation and won five Premier League titles with United from 2006 to 2014.
But despite being known for his jokey persona off the pitch, the former France captain’s new autobiography recalled some hard-hitting experiences, such as being molested.
Speaking to The Times, Evra explained in detail that the man took advantage of him when he moved into his care in order to cut down on the hours spent commuting to and from school.
He said: “I don’t want people to feel pity. It’s a difficult situation. A mother does not expect to hear this from their own child. She felt something [was wrong] and had asked me why I did not want to sleep in the teacher’s house.
“Only now when I am 40 years old do I tell her. It was a big shock for her. A lot of anger. She said she was sorry. She said: ‘You must not put it in your book, it’s private Patrice,’ but that’s when I say, mum, it’s not about me, it’s about other kids then she says OK, she understands.
“I know the book will mean people will change their view of me, but I am more than happy to talk with people. I am a better version of myself.
“My friends will say, ‘oh the world will react, think of the pressure,’ but the biggest pressure is to say it to my mum. Even thinking about it now, it’s hard.
“The first thing my mum says is, ‘if you don’t sue him, I’ll sue him. If he’s still alive, I’m going to kill him.’ There is a lot of rage. I know my mum and people from my family will do research and see if they can sue. But I buried this thing so deep I didn’t think about [prosecution].”
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The defender-turned-pundit went on to explain that he feels an obligation to share and therefore encourage other children to speak out about their experiences.
Evra believes that being honest in his book was the best way to do that.
He said: “When I first did the book, I didn’t tell the whole story because I was still ashamed and scared about what people will think and now I want to say it because I don’t want kids to be in my situation and they are ashamed of themselves, thinking they are not brave, because it’s not about being brave, it’s about being mentally ready to talk about it.
“So I just want to make sure kids out there have the courage and do not blame themselves, because I always blamed myself. I’m not shy to say I felt like a coward for many years because I never speak up. It was something heavy in my chest.
“But I don’t do it for me, I do it for other children.”
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