Manchester Utd star reveals the two Old Trafford heroes who inspire him

MATTEO DARMIAN has revealed that Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Patrice Evra are an inspiration to him.

 

Matteo Darmian has hailed Patrice Evra and Gary Neville for their careers at Manchester United

 

The Italian full-back signed from Torino for £12.7million last summer and he’s paid tribute to the former United defenders.

Darmian has become a regular in Louis van Gaal’s team and with United’s injuries, he’s been operating on both the right and left hand side of their defence.

Neville and Evra lined up together in Sir Alex Ferguson’s all conquering United team until the new Valencia boss retired from playing in 2011.

 

“They [Neville and Evra] are two full-backs that have created football history, not only at Manchester United but in the world,” Darmian told the club’s website.

"I’ve seen them both play, they have both been two very important pillars for United. They’ve contributed to the success of the club.”

Both Neville and Evra captained United, winning Premier League titles, League Cups and the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2008, and the 34-year-old French defender is still playing for Serie A champions Juventus - the bitter Turin rivals of Darmian’s former club Torino.

 

“Patrice played in Italy last season so I had the possibility of more contact with him. I played against him twice in the derbies [against Juventus], and in Italy he is proving to be a champion just like he was at United. 

“Obviously, Gary Neville was captain at United and a legend at the club, the victories he had, the trophies he won... his story speaks volumes."

Darmian missed the defeat at Stoke last month with injury but has started United’s last five matches since and the Red Devils have won three and drawn two - including the 1-0 at Liverpool last Sunday

 

He added: “They are both champions. Instead of comparing them, it’s nicer to refer to them as idols to follow.

"They were so great it’s almost impossible to reach what they achieved, but they can be an incentive to always give more and always work to your best to try to at least get a bit closer to what they did.

"They’ve had a lot of success and become legends of a very important club, that’s probably their greatest achievement, all the trophies that they won here and having become points of reference of this club."