Patrice Evra aims to make his presence felt in Berlin

There is symmetry to Patrice Evra’s career. 

As the Juventus defender, 34, prepares to enter the history books with a fifth appearance in a Champions League final — more than the four of fellow Frenchmen Raymond Kopa and Didier Deschamps, level with Clarence Seedorf and with only Paolo Maldini ahead — he might reflect on the early days of his career, where he started out as a winger in Serie C1 for Marsala in Sicily.

He was earning £20 a week then and at the end of his debut season, Lazio and AC Milan wanted to sign him. That never happened and instead he ended up first at Monza, then Monaco and Manchester United. That he has been so successful this season at Juventus is in part down to those teenage years. He had already mastered the language and was used to playing in a forward role, so could easily adapt to coach Max Allegri’s switch to 3-5-2, where he played as a wing-back, when required.