Why did Manchester United let the Northern Irishman go? Judging by his superb West Brom display, it’s hard to tell.
The footballing world scoffed in unison when The Telegraph reported that Arsenal were quoted £25 million for Jonny Evans last summer. Yet, if his performance against former club Manchester United on Saturday was anything to go by, the West Brom centre-half would have been worth every penny.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may have been quick to condemn The Baggies’ bus parking tactics as they nibbled away at his team’s top four hopes, but perhaps he should have pointed the finger at former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal rather than West Brom boss Tony Pulis. After all, it was the Dutchman who sanctioned Evans’ exit to West Brom, reportedly for just £6 million in the summer of 2015.
And there’s a degree of poetic justice in the fact that the Northern Irishman, who lifted three Premier League titles at Old Trafford, now appears to be exactly the player Mourinho is crying out for.
The fact that Manchester United were restricted to just three shots on target against The Baggies on Saturday afternoon owed much to Evans’ irrepressible performance at the back. With three tackles, three interceptions and a monstrous 13 clearances, this was arguably the 29-year-old’s finest ever Old Trafford performance – much to the chagrin of Manchester United fans and the delight of the travelling West Brom support.
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