Exclusive Q&A: Patrice Evra talks about signing for the PFL

It's an announcement that has shaken the sporting world. Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra, who played for Juventus, will be making his MMA debut at the PFL Europe in Paris on May 23.

DAZN News spoke to the former footballer, now a fighter, in the middle of a training camp in Dubai for his next challenge.

DAZN News: Patrice, you're currently in Dubai for a new project, can you explain why?

Patrice Evra: I'm in a gym, but not a regular gym for football training. I'm in an MMA gym with a cage right next to me. I'm training hard for a fight that's coming very soon.

DN: Why MMA?

PE: I'm a fan, I'm crazy - you have to be a little crazy. Watching fighters on TV and what they go through, I’ve always felt that adrenaline, wanting to put myself in their shoes, to know how they train, what the difficulties are, how hard it is when you're getting choked and you can't breathe anymore. It might sound a bit crazy, but it was a kind of adrenaline I wanted to experience.

DN: Why now?

PE: The PFL only contacted me now. I said yes right away. They were very, very surprised. But that's Patrice. I stopped playing football, and people expect me to become a coach - I even got my coaching licenses - but it didn’t give me the adrenaline I was looking for. I don’t regret my decision at all after training.

DN: How is training going?

PE: It’s intense, I won’t lie. I’m struggling during training and I love it. I didn’t come here saying, “I’m Patrice Evra, the football legend.” I have two coaches, Ramzy and Leon. They’re super cool - but not in the cage. There’s no joking around. At the slightest mistake, if they see I don’t have the right guard - stick hit. They want me to learn fast because I don’t have much time to prepare for a fight. Very, very strict. You have to be on time - just the way I like it. It’s my universe.

DN: How will the football world react?

PE: A lot of people will be surprised. They'll say, “Oh, one of my former teammates in the cage? He’s crazy.” But it will be inspiring. It’s not about me. I want other people to follow the same path.

DN: Who are your inspirations in the MMA world?

PE: People will say it’s an easy answer, but Khabib. Now he’s like a brother. I admire him greatly for his life philosophy. I'm going to train with him - I hope he doesn’t break my arm. I have this feeling that he loves me, but also wants to kill me. He told me, “No, no, my brother, I would even fight for you.” He’s truly an incredible and very respectful person.

DN: What do you think of Cédric Doumbè?

PE: When I saw the fight against Jordan, I actually felt bad for Jordan too. I also think about him - how much he was waiting for that moment. Cédric talking, then knocking him out in under a minute. The entrance... people laughed, but I didn’t. It was beautiful. I'm happy for my brother Cédric. But what Jordan endured - people should respect that. It’s easy to talk from behind a screen, sending messages like “yeah Jordan sucks.” Go train with him.

DN: What has football brought to you?

PE: It gave me life. Today, if I hadn’t had that football career, I wouldn’t have been contacted by the PFL. Today, I have easy access - I meet presidents. All of that is thanks to football. When the President of France has lunch with us at Clairefontaine, it’s thanks to football. I never thought that the kid from the neighborhood, who at 13 was begging outside bakeries to buy a kebab - without football, I never would have had those kinds of opportunities.

DN: What’s the hardest thing about MMA?

PE: I don’t like the word “hard.” These are challenges, it’s a learning process. There have been difficult moments. But I know what it’s like to be out of breath and run for 100 minutes - that’s different. A three-minute round - even with good cardio - you’re out of breath. It’s different.

DN: What are your goals?

PE: I don’t have goals. I don’t have limits.

DN: “I love this game” in MMA too?

PE: “I love this game” means you shout it out, you’re happy, you’re grateful to be alive. You wake up and say, “I love this game.” It’s going to be a good day - it’s a positive message. You use it, of course, in the cage. If I win - of course: “I love this game.” Everything I worked on for weeks paid off. It’s not about any sport in particular. If you translate it, it’s: I love my life.

DN: Is your high kick still top-level?

PE: People have already seen me doing some kickboxing - it’s in my blood. Unfortunately, that fan shouldn’t have been there. Wrong place, wrong time - he took a high kick. When people ask me what my style will be, I don’t know. I’m a good puncher, I have the high kick - everybody knows that.