Patrice Evra stated that Luis Suarez might potentially accept his challenge to fight him, following Evra`s announcement of his mixed martial arts debut.
The 43-year-old former Manchester United captain confirmed last week he will make his professional MMA debut at PFL Europe Paris on May 23 at the Accor Arena.
The former Manchester United star later used social media to challenge ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez to face him in the ring.
Evra and Suarez have a long-standing rivalry stemming from their Premier League careers, specifically an incident in 2011 where Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Evra during a match at Anfield.
According to Evra, Suarez, who continues to play professionally for Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi, has not dismissed the possibility of resolving their dispute in a fight.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Evra expressed surprise, saying: “I was quite surprised.”
He added, “I don`t know if it`s true, because I`m always careful, but apparently his manager contacted the PFL. Maybe to come and watch my first fight.”
Evra mentioned he would be surprised if it happened because Suarez is still an active footballer, and fighting is a different sport that could lead to injury.
He concluded, “But maybe it will happen, maybe not. Like I say, it`s something I`ve asked. If it doesn`t happen it`s not a big deal.”
Evra, who retired in 2019 after a career spanning over 700 appearances, elaborated on his motivation for wanting to fight Suarez.
He explained his request to the PFL: “When the PFL asked me who I would like, I said Luis Suárez because I had a beef with him on the back in the day when I was captain of United and he played for Liverpool.”
Referring to the 2011 incident, Evra stated, “He had some racist abuse. I don`t call him a racist, it`s just that they used some racist words, and I want to do this fight.”
He added that he believes “the world wants to see that fight. So I am like, `Please accept the offer`”.
Regardless of when it might happen, Evra feels “the world deserves to see that fight”.
In 2011, Suarez faced accusations of using “insulting words” towards Evra, specifically referring to the French player`s skin color.
Suarez, now 38, was alleged to have used the offensive term multiple times, while Evra reportedly threatened to “punch him” after asking for clarification.
Suarez, however, maintained that he used the word only once and not in an offensive context, claiming it was a common, friendly term in Uruguayan culture, contradicting Evra`s account.
Following a two-month investigation and a six-day hearing, the English Football Association (FA) imposed an eight-game ban on Suarez.
After the ban was announced, Liverpool players showed support for Suarez by wearing training shirts featuring his name and image during their warm-up.
Liverpool chose not to appeal the FA`s decision in January 2012, although they publicly continued to assert Suarez`s innocence.
When the two players faced each other again on the pitch at Old Trafford in 2012, Suarez refused to shake Evra`s hand before the match, prompting an angry reaction from Evra.
At the end of the game as the players walked off the pitch, Evra went in front of Suarez to celebrate in his face.
