Patrice Evra has revealed that he is still affected by racism he suffered while playing as a teenager in Italy.
The Manchester United defender, who was the victim of racist abuse by Liverpool striker Luis Suarez recently, claims that he was targetted by fans while playing for Marsala in Serie C as a 17-year-old.
"I feel I am more of a man than most, because I have taken knocks on the field and off it. I learned that football is a world of sharks. In Italy, people took photos of me when I arrived at the airport, not because I was Patrice Evra but because I was black," Evra said.
"I was 17 and the only black player in Sicily. I tended to get quite angry and wanted to sort things out with my fists.
"I remember we played in Palermo once and every time I touched the ball 20,000 people would make monkey noises. I felt so alone. It's terrible because it hurts your dignity."
The French international was at the centre of controversy this weekend when Suarez refused to shake his hand before Manchester United's 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool.
