Everyone knows about his exploits. It was his emergence in Brazil at Corinthians that caught everyone’s eye in Europe. His move to London, controversially helping West Ham float with a goal at Old Trafford where he moved to
next on loan. He won medals there, including a Champions League, but then moved to United’s rivals under a cloud. He starred at Manchester City and captained the Blues to an FA Cup and a Champions League place. And now we are in the present, where things have come to a head and he seems destined to spend the remaining part of the year without stepping onto the Etihad complex.
Carlos Tevez has never been a person to stand at one place at a time, literally and figuratively. On the pitch, he is bustling about winning tackles of creating spaces for himself or running with the ball. Off it, he’s changing clubs with regular intervals. At every club he has played for, he has left whining and complaining about something at that place. He was not completely happy at Boca Juniors in Argentina, and made a move to Brazil to play for Corinthians. After a successful year at Corinthians, he was reported to be unhappy in Brazil. Complains about the difficulty of non-Brazilians playing in Brazil was at the top of the list. Tevez refused to play for Corinthians and in 2006 he was sold to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee. At Upton Park, he threw tantrums and made noises about being substituted. His ownership by a third party caused multiple issues as Sheffield United contested their relegation on the basis that Tevez and fellow Argentinean Mascherano had breached Premier League rules. That led to a settlement where West Ham were made to pay £20 million to United. Then came his protracted move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United, Kia Joorabchian and West Ham United went to court over the move. Rejecting moves to Inter Milan in between, Tevez was reportedly happy in England. He was a success at United and thoughts of him being a controversy seemed far and wide. But then came Alex Ferguson’s decision to not sign Tevez at the end of the season. While gathering support from the crowd, Tevez rejected an offer from United that would keep him there for five more years. The crowd at games voiced their opinion chanting “Fergie, sign him up” with Tevez cupping his ears towards the dugout. While opinion was divided over Sir Alex’s decision, Tevez signed for neighbors Manchester City. During the saga, Tevez made public his dislike for Manchester. “It rains all the time”, he complained. The press pointed out that Tevez had made little effort to learn English. While making comments like he missed his family, who were in Argentina at that time, he moved across town to the Eastlands. If Tevez wasn’t a controversial figure as of yet, he was to become one during the next couple of seasons.
His first season at City started well, and he scored against United and gestured to Sir Alex of what he had missed out on. Gary Neville had to come to his manager’s defense, having a spat with Tevez publically. During the season, Tevez performed well for City, but moaned about having no friends and his plight regarding his family again. His first season did not end in getting City anywhere but lose Mark Hughes as manager. In stepped Mancini, and a battle was about to begin. To placate Tevez, Mancini made him captain during the 2010-11 season as there were signs of him being unsettled. In December, he wanted out of City because of differences with the board and Mancini. Many pointed to the reason for this behavior as Kia Joorabchian. It was said that Joorabchian was whispering in Tevez's ear about a possible move because he himself was not getting along with the board at City. Things seemed to reach a boiling point when Tevez made a transfer request which was denied by City. He was already on a contract that made him the highest paid player at City and would remain so as a clause to keep him the highest paid player at City was inked in. With Mancini and, supposedly, Zabaleta putting out the fire, Tevez resumed normal service at the Eastlands.
Things rolled on as the season progressed and inevitably, Tevez was up against United again in the FA Cup semifinal. He apparently missed it with a hamstring injury, but insiders claimed that he was unhappy with Mancini’s strategy and said they would lose and that he didn’t want to play. He was out of the game as City one-upped over their neighbors to reach the final and eventually win the trophy. With that trophy came the news that he wanted to go to Italy. Rumors of a possible move to Inter were circulating although Tevez said he would stay in Manchester if his family issues were solved. Of course, that did not stop him from saying that he “would not even return there on vacation”. During the summer break, he returned to Argentina for the Copa America. At that time, speculations rose that he would not even return to England and Manchester City were trying to offload him, along with many others. Corinthians were lined up to buy him for a fee in the region of £40 million. Corinthians, who had made some money in the last few seasons, were willing to buy, but negotiations went south as Tevez’s salary and the transfer fee were out of their league. Links to Real Madrid and Inter still lingered, but they were just news. And so, Tevez had to remain at Eastlands, where he had vowed never to return.
As the current season has progressed, Tevez has been making himself as unpopular as he can. Being left on the bench for many games and sometimes not even substituted, his frustration has grown and with his constant desire to leave the club and country, he has been on the edge. Last season he had a touchline row with Mancini on being substituted in a game that was virtually won, with him being the man of the match. Mancini calmed the fires by applauding his passion to keep playing, apparently masking his anger and giving Tevez another chance. With repeated outcries to leave the club, he has stayed put. I bring it down to his representatives, who seem to be whispering things in his ears that unsettle him. Think back to Rooney last season, and how his agents made him doubt Sir Alex, while the Scot turned the tables on him with class. Mancini needs to do the same. He has too many egos to control in the dressing room, biggest of all that of Tevez. Sir Alex must have seen something of this behavior when he elected not to sign Tevez. Manchester United supporters, including me, must be relieved that it’s not their problem.
But everything has to come to an end, and it seems now is the time. The apparent climax of the Tevez-Manchester City relationship is in near sight. After refusing to take the field at Munich during the week, Tevez has made himself Public Enemy number one. Putting it down to a misunderstanding, he has tried to make amends. But it’s apparent that things have gone too far. Mancini, understandably, does not want him in his squad anymore. Graeme Souness labeled Tevez “a disgrace to football”. Few, if any, have come to his support. City have banned him for two weeks and are contemplating a ban for the rest of the year. From Tevez’s point of view, he is disappointed at not being put in the starting line-up regularly, and feels his manager has lost faith in him. But then, that’s his own doing.
He misses his family, fair enough. But then make the effort and move. Cesc Fabregas did something by giving up money to make his move to Barcelona happen. Why can’t Tevez? Otherwise, stay put and play on. He is a gifted player, and adored by the fans. He does not need more restaurants and no rain to keep himself happy in Manchester. He has everything. If he does miss his family, then a move to Spain or Italy does not bring them closer. Carlos Tevez will keep us tuned in till he throws in his hat. Of course, he has been threatening to do that all through last season. And maybe he will. Maybe he won’t. Maybe he’ll still be at City. Maybe he’ll be in Argentina trying to revive River Plate. Who knows. But that’s the enigma, Carlos Tevez.
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