Carlos Tevez is set for a hero’s welcome as he returns to his first club, Boca Juniors, after 11 years in Europe and still in his prime.
In the past, former Argentine stars have returned home in the twilight of their careers, but that is not the case for Tevez, who in the past decade has played for Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.
“There is no better day than this one,” Tevez said. “This is my home from start to finish. I am in top condition physically as well as mentally.”
Photo: EPA
At 31, he still has two or three solid playing years ahead of him and arrives after a season where he scored 29 goals for Juventus, earning a second Serie A title and a runners-up spot in the UEFA Champions League.
‘APACHE’
Tevez, known as “Apache” after the Buenos Aires slum district where he was brought up, returned to the national side this year as a substitute after three years without a call-up.
He fired Argentina into the semi-finals of the Copa America with the decisive penalty that defeated Colombia 5-4 in a shootout. Argentina were defeated by Chile in the final.
“The fans should thank Tevez. Atletico Madrid put a check in his hands and he replied: ‘I want to return to Buenos Aires,’” said Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, a former Boca Juniors player.
Media reports suggested talks had been held with Atletico Madrid, while British media said Liverpool were also interested.
Boca Juniors are currently leading the Argentine league, which this year increased to 30 clubs, and are hoping to return to their glory years with Tevez, with whom they won their last Copa Libertadores title in 2003.
‘WELCOME HOME’
“Carlitos, welcome home,” a banner near Boca’s Bonbonera Stadium read.
Tevez played for his beloved Boca from 2001 to 2004 before moving to Corinthians in Brazil. From there he joined West Ham United in England in 2006 and then played for Manchester United before moving to rivals Manchester City for more than £40 million (US$60 million) in 2009. He joined Juventus in 2013 after four seasons at City and last season was Serie A’s second-top scorer with 20 goals, as Juventus won the league and reached the Champions League final where they lost to Barcelona.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, resigned to losing the Argentine, said Tevez had had an “extraordinary season.” For Argentina he scored 13 goals in 72 selections, played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and won Olympic gold in Athens in 2004.
Details of the transfer were not revealed by Boca Juniors, whose president Daniel Angelici is to bid for re-election later this year.
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