- Former Premier League star Carlos Tevez joined Manchester City from rivals Manchester United.
- Tevez and former United star Patrice Evra were close friends at Old Trafford.
- Evra says it was ‘heartbreaking’ to learn of Tevez joining City.
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has revealed how betrayed he felt when ex-teammate Carlos Tevez left Old Trafford to join rivals Manchester City.
Tevez made the controversial switch from Man United to to the blue side of the city in the summer of 2009, having played 99 times for the Red Devils.
He would go on to make 148 appearances for City, scoring 73 goals and helping the Citizens to their first ever Premier League title.
The Argentine striker became good friends with Patrice Evra during the pair’s time together at Old Trafford and they are still close to this day.
However, in a recent interview with The Athletic, Evra has recalled feeling ‘heartbroken’ and ‘betrayed’ when Tevez left the club so close to the Frenchman’s heart in order to join City.
Patrice Evra recalls ‘heartbreaking’ Carlos Tevez transfer
Having been close teammates under Sir Alex Ferguson, Evra recalled his shock and dismay upon learning of Tevez’s decision to join City.
He said: “It was painful, man. It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t believe it. It was after the Champions League final [which United lost 2-0 against Barcelona] and he didn’t start. He had a beef with Ferguson.
“Tevez was like ‘They didn’t offer me nothing’. I saw it on holiday. Boom! Tevez is joining Manchester City. I called him and said, ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to break your legs Carlito’.”
At Manchester United, Patrice Evra became close friends with Carlos Tevez, who controversially joined neighbours Manchester City in the summer of 2009. The pair remain in contact, last month spending time with former United team-mate Park Ji-sung.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 7, 2026
“It was painful, man,” Evra… pic.twitter.com/wPAp98dLah
“This was too painful,” continued Evra. “It was difficult to swallow. But I think this was a payback to Sir Alex Ferguson.
“That’s why I was disappointed, because at the end, you will never know the true story. But we paid the price heavily.
“If Tevez didn’t sign for City, I don’t think they would even start winning one league. You feel betrayed, but he is still my brother. You have to respect his choice.”
Manchester City enjoyed long-term success after Tevez arrived
During Carlos Tevez’s four years at the Etihad Stadium, Man City lifted both the Premier League and the FA Cup.
While it is impossible to say whether Evra is suggesting City would not have won those trophies without Tevez, the club’s long-term rise is hard to deny.
Since securing their first Premier League trophy in 2012, City have gone on to win the league eight times in the past 14 seasons.
They have also won three FA Cups and seven League Cups. Better still, the Sky Blues lifted the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history during that famous treble-winning 2022/23 campaign.
