The 24-year-old has voiced concerns about the Gunners’ ability to compete for silverware, and has been strongly linked with both United and rivals Manchester City.

City might be able to offer more money, but Evra has no doubt which club would give his international colleague the greater chance for glory.

“I remember I made a little joke saying that he’s a prince now but if he wants to be the king then he has to join Man United,” Evra said in The Sun.

“But that’s the reality – and I’ve told him that. I’ve said, ’If you want to win trophies, you have to come here.’

“In five years, I’ve won 12 trophies and I don’t know if I’d have won more than that with another club. So I just told him the truth.”

Evra’s comments re-open the link with United after manager Sir Alex Ferguson had indicated he expected Nasri to sign elsewhere – with most reports suggesting that meant City.

Evra thinks that would be the wrong move.

“If he goes to City, it’s his choice,” he added. “But I know, as a player, if I have Manchester United and Manchester City, I’d go straight away for United.”

But despite his ringing endorsement of life at Old Trafford, Evra admits he asked Ferguson for a transfer last summer.

The 30-year-old said: “After the World Cup I’d told him I wanted to go.

“Sometimes you have to make a choice in your life and there was an approach from two big clubs. I just had a chat about it with the boss.

“Sometimes you want to try something different. For family reasons perhaps there was a choice to move.

“In the end, I made the right choice and I’m so happy to still be a Man United player.”