Patrice Evra mockingly labels Arsenal a 'baby club' as he reveals Robin Van Persie agreed with his sentiment after joining Manchester United in 2012

  • Patrice Evra is working as a pundit for ITV during the 2018 World Cup in Russia 
  • The former France defender talked about his former team-mate Robin van Persie
  • He revealed how he had referred to Arsenal a 'baby club' to the Dutch striker
  • Evra said Van Persie understood where he was coming from with the remark 

Patrice Evra has revealed he used to refer to Arsenal as a 'baby team' when speaking to Robin van Persie about the Dutchman's former club.

And the former France international says that the Dutch striker could understand the message behind his mocking tone once he arrived at Manchester United.

Van Persie joined United in 2012 in a bid to win trophies, having won just a solitary FA Cup winner's medal during his eight-year stay at Arsenal.

Patrice Evra has said he would refer to Arsenal as a 'baby club' when talking to Robin van Persie

Patrice Evra has said he would refer to Arsenal as a 'baby club' when talking to Robin van Persie

The Dutchman won the Premier League title in his first season at Manchester United

The Dutchman won the Premier League title in his first season at Manchester United

He lifted the Premier League in his first season at Old Trafford, and Evra insists the work ethic at United was like nothing the forward had experienced before. 


‘I give you an example when Robin van Persie joined Man United,’ Evra said on ITV's World Cup coverage.

‘First of all when he came I said "welcome to a proper team, a man team, not a baby team". 

‘And he laughed, but he understood straight away because I remember him saying: "Patrice, to be fair, I just feel like now I’m playing for a big team because all of you win many trophies, many medals, and you still go in the gym before training, going in the gym after training". 

‘Robin was like a kid, he was just like amazed about that. When he looked at us he’d say: "when I see all of you guys, I have to work hard because I want to win, I want to win trophies".’ 

Evra's World Cup punditry  has caused controversy, most notably for applauding Eni Aluko

Evra's World Cup punditry has caused controversy, most notably for applauding Eni Aluko

Evra's unique brand of punditry has not been without its flash points during the World Cup.

The 37-year-old, who has just left West Ham United, was criticised for applauding England women's international Eni Aluko during her analysis of Costa Rica before their clash with Serbia. 

He has also been vocal in his support for Paul Pogba, while also offering insight into what it was like to be a team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo at United.