Since his retirement from the field, Patrice Evra, still unfiltered, had above all been talked about by his videos with sometimes dubious humor or his clashes as with Jérôme Rothen on social networks. But, this Friday, no question of laughing for the former international defender of Manchester United and captain of the France team, 40 years old. Asked by the British daily The Times on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography "I love this game", Evra made much more serious revelations. The child from Ulis (Essonne) recounted having been the victim, when he was 13, of sexual assault by a teacher with whom he was going to sleep.
This is the first time he has tackled this terrible subject.
He explains that he told his mother about it just a few weeks ago.
“Of course she was devastated, it was a complicated moment for me.
I have yet to tell a few of my siblings and a few close friends.
I don't want people to have pity.
It is a difficult situation.
A mother does not expect to hear this from her own child.
She sensed that something was wrong and asked me why I didn't want to sleep in the professor's house.
It was only now that I am 40 years old that I told him.
It was a big shock for her.
Lots of anger.
She said she was sorry.
"
"I am a better version of myself"
Evra explained what made him break the silence: “When I wrote the book I didn't tell the whole story because I was still ashamed and afraid of what people were going to think. Now I want to say it because I don't want the children to be in my situation and to be ashamed of themselves, to think that they are not brave, because they do not It's not about being brave, it's about being mentally ready to talk about it. I just want to make sure the kids have the courage not to blame themselves, because I've always blamed myself. I don't hesitate to say that I felt like a coward for many years because I never spoke up. It was something heavy in my chest. But I don't do it for myself, I do it for other kids. I know that with the bookpeople will change their perspective on me, but I am more than happy to talk with people. I am a better version of myself. "
In addition to his interview, excerpts from his autobiography have been published by The Times. A chilling tale… "The homeroom teacher, thinking I was asleep, put his hands under my bedspread and tried to touch me," Evra writes. I knew what he was doing was wrong and tried to push him away and hit him. I was strong but I was scared too even though I couldn't show him that I was scared of him. It lasted 10 or 15 minutes, like a fight. He was not joking and did everything to take my pants off. No words were spoken in the dark but he was touching himself and was sexually aroused. "
He continues: “I didn't tell anyone.
I was too ashamed to talk to my mom and didn't know if anyone else would believe me.
I haven't told the whole story until now.
The last night with this man, when he knew I was returning to my family, he finally succeeded.
He put my penis in his mouth.
"