10 Underwhelming Man Utd Signings Who Became Cult Heros

8. Patrice Evra

It's true that Patrice Evra had been touted as an up-and-coming full-back in the mid-00s, when clubs from England and Italy were sniffing around the Frenchman. After all, he had helped an unfancied Monaco side to a Champions League final, and had turned in over 150 appearances for the French club during a four year love affair. There was something about his signature, to replace the waning Gabriel Heinze, that didn't quite capture the imagination of Manchester United supporters at first, however. Perhaps it had something to do with his nightmarish debut at the City of Manchester Stadium, as the Red Devils slid to a humiliating defeat, and the left-back was hauled off the pitch and handed a coat at half-time. Even more worryingly than his abject display was his uninspiring post-match admission - 'playing for Manchester United was something I was not prepared for'. Of course, this initial set-back was to be just a bump in the road for the future Manchester United stalwart, who would soon endear himself to the Red Devils faithful. As composed and consistent a performer as Sir Alex Ferguson could have wished to call on, Evra kept his place in the starting line-up for eight years, pulling on the jersey 379 times and helping himself to a plethora of medals along the way. A rambunctious and at times volatile character who always wore his heart on his sleeve, it didn't take long for Manchester United supporters to fall in love with their passionate left-back. A bit of a thespian on the pitch, Evra was no stranger to the theatric, as evidenced by his gloating celebration in front of his alleged racist tormentor Luis Suarez, in February 2012. Leading the title celebrations, he even cheekily bit into a plastic arm, simulating the Uruguayan's controversial party piece against Chelsea days earlier. It's no wonder the Old Trafford faithful adopted Evra as one of their own.