Patrice Evra: LVG sad for me to go

Patrice Evra has said Louis van Gaal was sorry to see him leave Manchester United for Juventus.

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Evra, 33, ended an eight-and-a-half year stay at Old Trafford to sign for the Italian champions in a 2.5 million-euro deal.

The France international left-back had asked to leave United for family reasons, despite signing a new contract in May, but suggested new manager Van Gaal had hoped to keep him.

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He said at his unveiling in Turin: "Manchester had great confidence in me. I spoke to Van Gaal, who was sorry to see me go, but I wanted to come to Juventus.

"It was really difficult to leave Manchester United, it was for personal reasons.

"Three months before the end of the season I asked to speak to other clubs and when I knew Juventus were interested it was an easy decision, but the most difficult thing was to leave Manchester United."

Evra's departure, along with the sale of Alexander Buttner, means Van Gaal lacks experienced cover for first-choice left-back Luke Shaw.

The 33-year-old might have also been an option in United's back three but Van Gaal is short of alternatives to Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones after both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic also left United.

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