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Fergie signs Tevez
EXCLUSIVE By LEE CLAYTON and ASHLEY GRAY in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela - More
by this author ? Last updated at 00:48am on 5th July 2007
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Carlos Tevez last night agreed to join Manchester United in a permanent deal
worth more than ￡20million.
The move will be completed next week, subject to any challenge from West
Ham, who still claim to own the registration of the player who saved them
from relegation last season.
Scroll down to read more:
Tevez: 'Excited' by move
Read more...
a.. Hammers hit by new twist in Tevez saga
b.. How could you allow this farce?
c.. The final insult: Deceitful Hammers so lucky, is verdict
d.. Reo-Coker joins O’Neill revolution
e.. Delighted Rams boss Davies signs Mears from West Ham
However, West Ham have no contract with Tevez and his owner, businessman Kia
Joorabchian, which has left the player and his representative free to
negotiate a transfer with other clubs.
The news, breaking in South America last night, means that United will take
their summer buying past the ￡70m mark, confirming them as the biggest
spenders in world football.
Tevez was once fined when playing for Brazil's Corinthians for turning up to
an official press conference wearing a Manchester United shirt.
He will fly from Argentina's Copa America base here to join United's
pre-season programme.
"He just cannot contain his excitement at the news," a source close to the
Argentina camp confirmed. "Tevez has been concerned about his future,
worried about where he may play next season and now he is joining the
biggest club in the world! This is massive news."
Tevez is best friends with United's Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and
was a guest at their end-of-season title party in a London club.
Days later, Tevez scored at Old Trafford on the final day of the season to
give West Ham the 1-0 win that kept them in the Premiership, but his
controversial transfer has been the subject of a Premier League
investigation, which was concluded on Tuesday.
United were hoping to keep the confirmation of the transfer quiet until the
furore died down and the deal will not be officially declared until the
middle of next week. The official transfer fee — and wages — are still to
be confirmed.
United have already signed Portuguese winger Nani and Brazilian midfielder
Anderson on expensive five-year contracts.
The pair join the Premier League champions from Sporting Lisbon and Porto
respectively, while England midfielder Owen Hargreaves completed his move
from Bayern Munich. The total cost of those deals is ￡50m.
United have also made Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak a full signing after he
played last season on loan from second division West Bromwich.
With multi-million pound backing from their American investors, United have
been flexing their financial muscle, but the signing of Tevez is their most
ambitious.
The little striker has told friends that he is "very excited" about his
future, though he has refused to confirm his next destination. Tevez has
also been linked with Inter Milan and Arsenal, although West Ham had been
hoping to keep him.
Tevez told Sportsmail in an exclusive interview last season: "If I can play
at West Ham in such a difficult position, then it's easier to play for a
bigger club, with players such as Rooney, Ronaldo or Drogba.
"I would be capable of playing at any English team, because the English game
is no longer a problem for me." He then went on to save West Ham, following
his controversial "loan" move from Corinthians, a club he joined in a South
American transfer record of $22m.
As well as being fined for turning up in an official press conference
wearing a United shirt, he was also punished for turning up for a game in
Bermuda shorts — and for fighting with team-mates.
Then the goals started and he was branded a hero. The fans copied his
braided hair cut, followed his celebration dance craze and bought the
replica shirts.
It was claimed that 4,000 were sold at every home game. He was elected
captain by his team-mates and he would lead out his team with his baby
daughter, Florencia, in his arms, producing a dummy from his sock when he
scored a goal.
Then, when a website opened in his name, it broke the previous record held
by Ronaldinho by 4,000 hits.
Tevez received 16,000 hits and the local newspapers called it "the birth of
Tevezmania". It sounds like a marketing dream for Manchester United.
West Ham last night confirmed the free transfer signing of former England
goalkeeper Richard Wright, who left Everton at the end of last season. |
發表於 2007-7-5 05:47 PM
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