Patrice Evra: 'Alex Ferguson wanted Paul Pogba stay'

Patrice Evra has revealed how former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson asked him to persuade midfielder Paul Pogba to stay at Old Trafford.

Pogba has gone on to become one of Europe's hottest properties since leaving the Red Devils for Juventus on a Bosman in 2012.

Evra, a United player for eight years, claims that the 21-year-old is like a son to him but says that even he failed to convince his compatriot to remain in England.

"La Pioche (Pogba) is like a son to me," the Frenchman, who himself has since joined the Italian giants, told La Repubblica.

"Ferguson sent me to his house to convince him to stay. He cried, he couldn't sleep. He knew he could become greater than [Patrick] Vieira, but he had decided.

"Ferguson also knew Pogba could become very strong, but he couldn't force the issue."

Pogba has helped the Italian giants win back-to-back Serie A titles since his arrival.