Can Tevez stay at Manchester United now?

Carlos Tevez has done well for Manchester United and has achieved ‘cult status’ with the fans. His all action, 110% displays are guaranteed to make him a crowd favourite.

‘Bit part’

He has done everything that has been asked of him and despite being something of a ‘bit part’ player this season has never let the club down when called upon. His twenty seven goals in seventy four appearances for United have already helped the club to three trophies in his season and a half with them and have kept them on course for potentially another four this season.

Despite all of that it would seem that the Argentina international’s days at Old Trafford are most definitely numbered. In a radio interview in Buenos Aires, Tevez has criticised Sir Alex Ferguson. I can think of no players who have done that and remained at the club for long afterwards.

Thirty-two million

In fairness, the question of whether Sir Alex actually does want to keep Tevez needs to be asked as well. I’m sure he would like to keep him, but thirty-two million pounds for a bit part player? His preferred partnership is clearly Berbatov and Rooney. He has Ronaldo and Giggs who can both play a front role and is giving more experience to young Danny Welbeck. He has Manucho and Fraizer Campbell waiting in the wings and he might just feel that Tevez is a rather too expensive luxury.

Now that the dispute between player and club has been made public knowledge, it is difficult to see Tevez staying at Old Trafford. In the radio interview he claims that Sir Alex and the club have been dishonest in saying that he had refused an offer. He also accuses them of lying to the fans.

He also said he was fed up with waiting and would leave if an acceptable offer came from elsewhere. In the interview Tevez said,

“I want to stay but the club have not made any offer. I’ve been waiting for a year and a half. If a club comes to me and offers me a five-year deal, I will accept it.”

In relation to his manager and the club he said,

“I didn’t like him saying I didn’t like the offer I was made because neither my agent nor me were given one. I don’t know anything on my future. United know what they must pay if they want me to stay. I want everybody to know no offer has been made. I don’t like that they are playing with our fans, who show their love to me in each match. I will sign my last contract and then I figure that I’ll go back to Boca Juniors. That could be in four or five years.”

The twenty-four year old striker again clearly says that he wants to stay at Manchester United and has said so publicly several times before. His current loan deal ends at the end of this season and he is obviously keen to get his future sorted out as soon as possible.

Unsatisfactory

How did the club and the player end up in this unsatisfactory position for all concerned? Are United deliberately ‘messing Tevez about’ in a bid to force his hand and get him to leave? Is Tevez just holding out for a bigger deal from United or whoever else might show an interest?

Is Tevez genuinely upset by the fact that United haven’t offered him what he thinks he is worth, or indeed, haven’t offered him anything at all?

Fuming

Whatever the real situation is there is one thing for sure. Sir Alex Ferguson will be absolutely fuming when he sees the newspaper headlines about Tevez this morning. Other players have upset Fergie before. Paul Ince, David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistelroy, etc, etc. We all know how the boss dealt with them.

I cannot see Sir Alex allowing one of his players to suggest that he has lied in an attempt to try to manipulate the Manchester United fans. Tevez is right about the fans loving him but I think he may have underestimated how much they love their miserable old manager as well!

Glaswegian

It will be an interesting meeting between Fergie and Tevez next time their paths cross. With Tevez speaking Spanish and Fergie speaking broad Glaswegian that even English players cannot understand there may be some communication difficulties. Having said that, I reckon Fergie might just about manage to get his message across!