Patrice Evra Issues Serious Challenge to Luis Suárez, Citing ‘Racist Incident’

It’s not every day a former Champions League winner trades cleats for combat gloves, but Patrice Evra is doing just that. Now 42 years old, The longtime Manchester United captain and French international is now preparing for a debut under the Professional Fighters League banner. As part of PFL Europe—a newly launched regional format under the global MMA promotion—Evra is ready to enter a new kind of arena. But in typical Evra fashion, he’s not just chasing competition. He’s aiming to settle old business.

In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Evra was asked about his PFL Europe debut and who he’d like to face. His response turned heads: 'When the PFL asked me who I would like to fight, I said Luis Suárez because I had a beef with him back in the day when I was captain of United and he played for Liverpool. He had like some racist abuse. I don’t call him a racist. It’s just that he used some racist words and I want to do this fight.' He continued, 'You know, I met him after when I played for Juventus. We played in the final Champions League. I shook his hand. So I have no issue. But I think the world wants to see that fight. So I’m like, please, you know, accept the offer.' He added, 'I don’t know if it will be the first or the second or the third fight, but I think the world deserves to see that fight.' Evra also noted, 'I was quite surprised because I don’t know if it’s true—I’m always careful—but my team apparently said his manager contacted the PFL maybe to come and watch my first fight.'