There are few more infuriating pursuits than watching a multi-millionaire celebrity go onto a chat show and yarn about how difficult life is. The lack of perspective that these people possess is at times staggering, but also expected due to the length of time since their departure from the sphere of reality.
In the sporting arena, particularly football it can sometimes be different. Managers, agents and even journalists and pundits are often the grand apologists for the players, making up a plethora of excuses for their myriad of mistakes, missives and misses.
Carlos Tevez has broken a few moulds in his time in English football. Along with Javier Mascherano he was the reason the Premier League had to begin enforcing rules on players ‘owned’ by a third party. Along with Cristiano Ronaldo he is one of only a few world class player to actually want to leave Old Trafford. And this week he united the footballing world in their condemnation of him as a player and as a man.
Graeme Souness described him as a ‘bad apple’. Robbie Savage described Tevez’ actions as ‘a disgrace’. Journalist Henry Winter implored Man City to ‘get rid now’.
All of this makes one wonder just what does Tevez want. In 2006, after refusing to play for Corinthians he moved to the Premier League with West Ham After helping to save the Hammers from relegation he made it clear that he wished to leave. From an ambition perspective this made sense. He was an Argentine international and clearly talented enough to play European football. A move to Man Utd followed. But this was hampered by his annoyance at being, what he perceived as a ‘bit part player’. Stats appear to show this was another excuse: In two years Tevez made 99 appearances for Man Utd and started 73 of those. Cynics said money was the issue for his departure with Man City offering £200,000 a week.
At Eastlands (Etihad Stadium) Tevez received the love and affection he felt he didn’t get at Old Trafford. He was made the centre point of the team and responded by scoring 29 goals in his first season. He followed this up with 23 last season where City qualified for the Champions League.
It seemed that Tevez had been vindicated by the move and that City were on the verge of challenging their illustrious neighbours. However, in the summer the whisperings became shouts as Tevez made noises that he wanted to leave Man City. He talked of missing his family (located in Argentina) and wanting to return to South America.
Whilst this was going on though rumours of a move to Inter Milan began to circulate, rumours that Tevez did nothing to dispel.
Showing foresight Man City went out and bought Sergio Aguero as Tevez’s replacement. Maradonna’s son-in-law is of a similar mould to Tevez in terms of work-rate and team play. The problem was that, for whatever reason Inter Milan didn’t sign Tevez (City were rumoured to want £50 million for him) and so he is now stuck in limbo. City have built a system around Dzeko and Aguero and Tevez doesn’t fit into it.
On Tuesday night Mark Hughes attempted to defend the Argentinean by saying Carlos ‘always wants to play’. And this is understandable. After all it’s why these men are footballers. And for the majority of them the money ceases to be an issue by the time they’re in their mid-twenties, so rich that financial worries are a stranger (although some will recall Chelsea’s Winston Bogarde who refused numerous transfers to spend two years in the reserves on his £50,000 a week contract).