“He gets ripped” – Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United legend keeps leaving Whatsapp group of UCL winners after always getting bullied
Rio Ferdinand claimed that Manchester United legend Patrice Evra keeps leaving a group chat consisting of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League winners. The reason for that is that the Frenchman always gets bullied in there.
The Red Devils defeated Chelsea in Moscow via penalties (1-1 after extra time) to win the 2007-08 Champions League. The team, which was managed by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, now share a WhatsApp group chat.
However, Evra often leaves the chat, only to request to get added back again. Speaking about the left-back, Ferdinand said on Mo Gilligan's The Lalteish (via the Daily Star):
"Evra just comes in and out because he gets bullied in there. He gets ripped and all you see is, Patrice has left the group. And then you get a text a couple of hours later: ‘Can you let me back in please, add me, add me’."
Ferdinand also showed an example of the aforementioned 'bullying'. Mo Gilligan asked the legendary central defender whether he would again wear the all-white suit that Ferdinand wore in his Manchester United unveiling in 2002.
Ferdinand decided to put that question to the group. Evra, though, replied to him privately rather than replying to the group.
He wrote:
“Bro, this is fire, you have to wear it!”
Ferdinand further said on the matter:
“So, he's come outside of the group because he knows if he says that inside of the group, they'll kill him.”
Evra made 379 appearances for the Red Devils during his career and was always a fan favorite. Hence, the bullying is just friendly banter between former teammates who achieved greatness together.
Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra were part of a solid Manchester United defense
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United had a formidable defense at their disposal. Apart from Ferdinand and Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville were also part of the team.
Vidic and Ferdinand were the two center halves, while Evra and Neville operated on both flanks as full-backs. They also had the likes of John O'Shea and others as substitutes.
Overall, the team was defensively sound, something that they lacked in recent years. Erik ten Hag, however, has sorted the issue to some extent this term. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been good when they have played together.