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Patrice Evra’s autobiography has sold to S&S!

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We are thrilled to announce that Paul Moreton has sold UK and Commonwealth rights for I Love This Game, the autobiography of Patrice Evra, the former Manchester United and France football captain, to Ian Marshall, deputy publishing director! The book will be published in hardback on 28th October.

In I Love This Game, the long-awaited autobiography of Patrice Evra, the former Manchester United and France star looks back on a remarkable life and career. Having played alongside some of the club's greatest legends, such as Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, in one of United's most successful eras, Evra has now found a new role as an in-demand pundit and social media star. 

But, as he reveals in this frank, often shocking, but always compelling memoir, beneath the surface things were not so simple, and he had to fight all the way to get to the top. Initially, it was football that saved him from being sucked into the gang culture of his tough neighbourhood of Les Ulis in the suburbs of Paris. Then, once he achieved his dream of becoming a professional, he had to deal with racism and a notorious dispute with Luis Suarez; he also became a central figure in the infamous ‘strike’ by the France national team in the 2010 World Cup; and there was the moment he launched an attack against a Marseille fan while warming up. 

‘I Love This Game’ has become Evra’s catchphrase. Throughout this wonderful book, his passion for his sport shines through and there are revealing and entertaining behind-the-scenes insights about the players and managers he’s worked with, from Sir Alex Ferguson to Paul Pogba, who knows him as Uncle Pat. With infectious enthusiasm and sharp observation, Evra takes the reader where few football autobiographies dare to tread. 

"As a lifelong United fan, I am unsurprisingly thrilled to be bringing Patrice’s remarkable story to a wider audience," Marshall said. "Especially since he retired, Patrice has built a brilliant new platform for himself, both as a passionate and incisive pundit on TV and via his hugely popular social media feeds, where his infectious enthusiasm is best summed up by the catchphrase that was the inevitable title of the book: I Love This Game. What the book reveals, however, is an astonishing story of triumph over the darkest adversity and provides a fascinating insight into his life and career."

Evra said: "I want this book to inspire the next generation to chase their dreams and their goals, pushing their limits but also to make sacrifices. I've been really successful in my career, but I think the most important thing is that I have won the biggest prize and that is life and being happy, no matter the circumstance. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Simon & Schuster to share my story, to give a real insight into what it’s like to play at the very highest level, as well as revealing the details of some events that I have never spoken about before."