Summary "Sometimes life you can feel really heavy but you always have to keep smiling", said Evra
PARIS: (AFP) - Patrice Evra has vowed to come back "stronger than ever" in his first public message since leaving Marseille and being hit with a season-long European football ban for kung-fu kicking a supporter.
Evra, who was sent off after attacking the Marseille fan ahead of the Ligue 1 side s 1-0 Europa League defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes on November 2, made the promise while pulling a Jeep in a light-hearted Instagram post filmed in Dubai by former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, who Evra nicknamed "Spielberg" in the post.
"I swear to God I will come back stronger than ever," said the former France and Manchester United left-back.
"Sometimes life you can feel really heavy but you always have to keep smiling, and of course keep loving this game."
The 36-year-old s ban only applies to UEFA club competitions, meaning that he could still player in a domestic league should a club approach him.
Evra, who has won five Premier titles, two Serie A championships and the Champions League, parted ways with Marseille on Saturday almost immediately after being banned from European competition and fined 10,000 euros ($11,650).
Evra lashed out in response to a group of supporters that had come to the pitchside to berate him for what they considered sub-par displays on south coast of France.
On Sunday Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda backed his former teammate, saying that Evra was a "true friend and a good guy", while France coach Didier Deschamps described his punishment as "heavy".
The club s American owner Frank McCourt blamed both player and fans for the incident, calling it "unacceptable behaviour" and "not something we can tolerate at "Marseille".
Evra s dismissal from Marseille also came after supporters unfurled a huge banner before their home match with Caen last week that read: "we don t want you in our colours anymore. Evra get lost."
