Manchester United, Patrice Evra Agree To Contract Extension

The rumours have been circulating for some time that left-back Patrice Evra and Manchester United were fairly close to announcing a contract extension, and now it's official. Evra, 29, and the club have agreed to a two-year contract extension which will keep the French defender at Old Trafford until the end of the 2013/14 season. This will be his third contract with the club after joining for £5.5M from Monaco in 2006, with his previous deal worth £70,000 a week and set to run out in summer 2012. It is unknown whether today's announcement corresponds with a raise for the France ex-captain.

What is clear is how vital Evra is to United's continued push for trophies. As Sir Alex Ferguson has said many times, he's clearly one of the top left backs in the world and is instrumental in conducting the team's attack on the left flank while maintaining a solid defensive presence. Evra, for his part, is understandably delighted to remain at one of the top teams in the world, telling Manchester United's official website:

"Ever since I arrived at United, it’s been a dream come true playing here. The fans, the players, the manager and the staff all work hard to make this club the best in the world.

"I’ve won a lot in the last five years, but I want to win more and I know that’s the mentality of everyone here."

By the time the deal ends, Evra will be 33 years old, so this may well be his last big payday as a professional. Fortunately for Evra and Manchester United fans, he looks set to add to his already-large collection of honours over the next few years.