Manchester City Sign Carlos Tevez On 5 Year Deal
"Manchester City is delighted to announce that agreement has been reached with Carlos Tevez over a proposed move to the City of Manchester Stadium."
"He is not only outstanding technically but he is a reliable goal scorer and someone who will contribute fully to the team ethic. He gives us another exciting, attacking dimension. I cannot wait to welcome him to City. This is yet another deal that shows the commitment of the owner Sheikh Mansour to make this club the very best it can possibly be. I am sure our fans will give Carlos an exceptionally warm welcome."
The Road To City
The Argentine international was born on the 5th of February 1984, he grew up in the district of Ejercito de Los Andes – known as “Fuerte Apache” – the origin of the nick name “El Apache”. He began his playing career at sixteen, signing for Boca Juniors making his debut on 21st October 2001. In 2005 Tevez moved to Corinthians in the biggest transfer deal ever in South American football. In 2006 Tevez transferred to West Ham United, before moving to Manchester United in a two year loan deal in 2007. After enjoying a good first season Tevez found himself with limited opportunities after the arrival of Berbatov in his second season. During an interview Tevez said of the matter:
"I did not feel supported after they [United] signed Berbatov because I was the man for the job he was bought to do.
"Ferguson told me not be worried about Berbatov's arrival, but I did not like it when he started to put me on the bench often. I gave my life for the Manchester United shirt.
"Last year, I was the second top-scorer after Cristiano [Ronaldo]. We won two titles [the Premier League and the Carling Cup] and being shut out like this was something that I could not understand.
"When I arrived I had to fight for a place like any other player. My first season was good. I was a starter or a substitute, but I respected that.
"But in my second year, after the match against Liverpool [on Sept 13], the coach started to overlook me.
"The fans supported me a lot so I thought that something was going on as my performances were also good. I was a professional."
Manchester United failed to offer Tevez a contract until after the final game of the season, by which time the striker had already become disolutioned with the club.
“I gave everything for Manchester United and people know that. For that reason, I don't deserve the way things have ended up.”
Speculation that Tevez would join Manchester City’s project began before his loan deal expired, fueled by reports that his daughter had been enrolled at a Cheshire school, seemingly ending any interest Chelsea may have had in the player. The player’s adviser Kia Joorabchian had also ruled out a move to Liverpool because of the rivalry between United and Liverpool. However, surprisingly, a move across to the better half of Manchester would not been seen in the same light according to the player in a report published in the People on Sunday 5th July:
“If I play for Manchester City, I don't think the United fans will feel I am a traitor, it has come about because I could not stand my sporting situation at Manchester United any longer.”
What Carlos Tevez will bring to City
Carlos Tevez even in his early days at Boca Juniors had the power, pace and agility to be a match winner helping Boca win the Argentine Championship and the South American Champions League – the Copa Libertadores where he scored 5 goals in 7 games. His phenomenal scoring record continued at Corinthians (which was needed to win over the Brazilian public!), he scored an amazing 25 goals in 38 appearances becoming the first non Brazilian player to win the player of the year award since 1976.
When Tevez signed for West Ham on 31st August 2006 the goals did not come immediately, in fact it was not until March 4th 2007 until he scored a freekick against Tottenham. However after finding his scoring boots Tevez played a crucial part in West Ham’s premiership survival scoring the decisive goal against Manchester United on the last day of the season. It did not take Carlos long to find the target after his move to United however, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 win over Chelsea. He scored 19 goals in 39(9) appearances during his first season, Tevez scored 15 goals in 34(16) appearances in his second season.
Tevez does not come without his controversy however. During his early years at Boca he was given a hard time by the press when news broke that he was dating Natalia Fassi at the same time as announcing that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant, to which the Argentinean public turned on him, effectively pushing him out of the club. He signed for Corinthians in a mega $10 million deal that smashed the clubs wage structure, which was not taken well by his predominantly Brazilian team mates. Tevez did not help his cause by being involved in a fist fight with Brazilian defender Marquinos which was caught on film and broadcast on Brazilian television. He was also frequently banned for swearing at referees and was fined for making sexist comments about women officiating football matches.
Lately however it has been widely reported that Tevez has indeed “grown up”, on and off the pitch. He only received 2 yellow cards all season and has settled down in his family life. After being brought up in a violent society on the streets of Ejercito de Los Andes – Tevez can be forgiven for his past problems that accompanied the vast wealth and media scrutiny that came with it. Man City can expect a strong willed, determined, mature Tevez who will stop at nothing to succeed. We can only hope that the professional Mr Hughes can fore fill his potential too and satisfy the increasing number of ambitious stars at Manchester City.
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