Patrice Evra, former Juventus and Manchester United defender, has opened up about his intense experience at Juventus, revealing behind-the-scenes details about the club’s demanding training regime, the departure of Paulo Dybala, and the untapped potential of Kingsley Coman. Speaking (as quoted by Calciomercato) to the SDS YouTube channel, Evra offered a candid look at the unique challenges of playing for the Bianconeri.
The Shock of Juventus Training
Reflecting on his move to Italy after nine years at Manchester United, Evra admitted he was unprepared for the sheer intensity of Juventus’ training sessions.
“When I went to Juventus, I realized I had never trained so hard, even after nine years at United. In comparison, that was like being on vacation. It was crazy… As a full-back, they wanted me to run 15 kilometers per game. But we were Juventus, so we had a lot of possession, and in some matches I ran 10 or 12 kilometers. Then, the next day, it’s not a rest day-you have another training session and you have to run another 15 kilometers.”
Juventus’ approach was relentless and scientific, Evra explained:
“They analyze everything, they have computers… you can’t cheat. They check your heart rate, once a week. And then blood tests, they check what you eat, everything. Even when you go to bed at home, you have a device you put on before sleeping, so they know exactly how many hours you sleep.”
“I Saw Players Cry Because of Training”
Evra recalled how even seasoned professionals struggled to adapt to the demands in Turin:
“I saw great players sign for Juventus and after two training sessions, they started to cry. They said, ‘This is not football,’ and I’m talking about players who played for big clubs in Spain. Seriously, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He contrasted the tactical and physical demands of Italian football with the English game:
“The Premier League is like two fighters. You punch me, I punch you. In Italy, it’s more like a chess match. They analyze everything, even corners. You have to be very mature, very patient. And you run like crazy. Honestly, I arrived at Juventus at 33 and I never felt like that before. Not even at 20 did I do that much cardio. My first three months were really tough because you even train on match day. It’s not like a walk in the park. You go to train, lots of exercises every time. I kept asking myself, ‘Is the match delayed? Aren’t we playing tonight?’ It’s just another level.”
The Dybala Departure: “He Had Problems with Allegri”
Evra shared insights into Paulo Dybala’s early days at Juventus and his eventual exit:
“I remember when Dybala arrived. They killed him. Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli-they said, ‘Come on, Patrice, this isn’t the Palermo shirt, this is Juventus. It’s not an easy shirt.’ I went to him and said, ‘Paulo, why don’t you play with a free mind? Few players have your touch.’ I’ve seen Messi and Dybala. Wow… I assure you, when he shot, he hit the target nine times out of ten. I just told him, ‘Set yourself free!’ But I’ve never seen such a gifted player. I was close to bringing Dybala to United at the last minute. I spoke to him, I pushed hard… I was really disappointed when he left Juve. He should never have left, but he had some problems with Allegri at the time. What a player! I wish he’d signed for United. It would have been amazing. I remember that summer and his incredible personality.”
The Coman Case: “Trust Me, Coman Wins the 100m”
Evra also discussed Kingsley Coman, who left Juventus for Bayern Munich and went on to achieve great success:
“He was sad because he wanted to play every single match. But it was just the Italian mentality that considered him too young. And then look at what he did at Bayern, because he’s also underrated, even in the French national team. When he left Juve… wow. He left PSG, then his career went crazy. There was a period where he won every year. He won the league every year. Then, besides the league, he won Man of the Match in the Champions League final, scoring the winning goal. Damn. Who wins the 100m between Henry, Mbappé, Dembélé, and Coman? Coman, trust me.”
The Juventus Way: “You Can’t Cheat the System”
Evra’s stories paint a picture of a club where hard work, discipline, and attention to detail are non-negotiable. The Juventus DNA, he says, is built on relentless effort and a culture that pushes players to their physical and mental limits-a standard that even champions can find overwhelming.
“Juventus have this DNA of working hard. I even saw some players vomit and they still finished the training sessions. The training is harder than the game. Some people say it’s easier to play in Italy, but they wouldn’t even be able to train. It was such a shock for me.”
