Jonny Evans’ Man Utd return didn’t break internet like Cristiano Ronaldo’s but this free transfer may be a masterstroke
WHEN Manchester United re-signed Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo, the sheer weight of social-media traffic almost broke the internet.
When they re-signed Jonny Evans, there was little online except for a few ironic titters.
Yet Evans has won the Champions League, three Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, two League Cups and more than 100 international caps.
Unlike Ronaldo or Pogba, he is widely renowned as one of the best blokes in football.
United spent hundreds of millions on ne’er- do-wells and dross in recent years but their free transfer of Evans, 35, looks a masterstroke.
The Northern Irishman was magnificent in United’s crucial 1-0 win over Burnley.
A gorgeous assist, an unfortunate disallowed goal and a defensive masterclass for a team which had conceded 14 goals in their previous five matches.
United were in dire need of a feelgood story.
And, unless you’re poor old Harry Maguire — shunted down to fifth-choice centre-half — it is difficult to imagine a better one than the re-emergence of Evans.
Meanwhile, there was a feeling the title race might be more interesting when Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s best player, suffered a long-term injury.
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Yet Pep Guardiola’s Treble-winners have continued to win every match with Julian Alvarez excelling in the No 10 role.
Now that Rodri, City’s most regular starter, has been suspended for three matches, including the key trip to Arsenal, people are saying the same thing.
As if Kalvin Phillips and Mateo Kovacic are somehow not very good at football.
I wouldn’t believe a word of it.