May 16th 2008

September 20th 2008: “I cannot ever imagine leaving Manchester United. I am in the perfect situation. My relationship with the club is perfect. Patrice Evra is my closest friend but the feeling I get from all the players is something I’ve not experienced before. I want to get the contract sorted and play for United for the rest of my career.”

September 21st 2008: Kia Joorabchian – “Carlos is not joining Manchester City. All this talk linking him with them is a complete load of nonsense. He is a Manchester United player through and through and is looking forward to signing a long-term contract with them in the near future.”

November 1st 2008: “This club have the most talented forward line in England and the manager has decided that we cannot all play in the team at the same time. I want to play more and the coach knows this. But I have no problem with him. We have spoken. There is no way I would want to leave this club. I insist I am calm. I have confidence in the coach and he has in me. In this sport it is necessary to be patient and I will be.”

January 4th 2009: “We have not started talks with Manchester United yet, though I am keen to stay. Sir Alex Ferguson has told me he wants me to remain a United player and that is certainly my desire too. My contract ends in the summer and we have agreed to sit down at the end of the season and discuss a new contract, nothing I have heard from the club suggests it will be otherwise. There is simply no reason to sit down now. I have a great relationship with Sir Alex and I hope that will continue long into the future.“

February 21st 2009: “I do have a great feeling about Manchester United and, in particular, the fans. I have a great affection for them and they have made the feeling phenomenal. But at this point I am not sure if I will stay, not least because it is not just my decision. It is up to Manchester to decide if they want to keep me.”

April 3rd 2009: On Ferguson – “From the moment I arrived, he has treated me with respect as a person. His greatest quality is that, for him, there are no star players – everyone is equal, whether they cost many millions or are a young player who hasn’t played many times for the team. When I see him work he reminds me of Carlos Bianchi, who was my coach at Boca Juniors in Argentina. Both have had a big influence on my career, and both know how to treat people.“

On the future – “I cannot think of any team except United. The United fans love me and my family is very happy both in Manchester and in England. I hope I will still be here next season. I do not want to play with any other team. I always follow heart and my heart is telling me it will be impossible for me to leave.”

May 29th 2009: “I wanted to play in the starting line-up in Rome but that decision was down to the coach. But with a strategy more attacking in the first minute then perhaps the result would have been different. It has not been a good time for me because I believe that I should have played more minutes.”

July 5th 2009: “If I play for Manchester City I don’t think the United fans will feel I am a traitor. They have to remember that at least as far as I know I have been thrown out of the club and I have to study the best offers available.”

July 14th 2009: “I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time. The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina. It doesn’t seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club. It doesn’t seem there is a line of communication.”

July 16th 2009: “Real made an offer but there was no agreement. There were talks about deals and agreements but in the end it was only City. They showed lots of interest in me and are intent on growing and signing big players. I am sad to leave United but I am excited to join City. I’m thinking about the future and I will grow with this club.”

July 25th 2009: “I respect United fans because they supported me from day one and I think they will understand my decision. I have had big challenges throughout my life and now I am ready for another. City is a big project but I am excited. We have the best attack in Europe – Robinho, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Wright-Phillips. It is very strong. I am convinced City will reach the top level in Europe in just one year because it is a strong, ambitious club.”

September 18th 2009: “I expect to have a good reception. While at United, I always gave my best and I had good relations with the fans. They know I did everything while at Old Trafford to try to score the goals that would help the team win matches, so I don’t know why I should have a bad reception.”

September 22nd 2009: “I must admit I did believe I would get a different reception from the United supporters. Initially everything was positive and I was greeted by my former team-mates and United staff without any problems at all. But as soon as I entered the field the atmosphere was very different. It was hard to take because previously I was always wanted by those people.”

November 13th 2009: “It crosses my mind to hang up my boots if we win the World Cup, although I have a contract with City until 2014. I’m a bit tired of so much football. I want to enjoy my family a bit. I’m very keen to stop and get a bit of calm. I’ve already won a lot. Living for football has saturated me.”

December 4th 2009: “Obviously I was disappointed because I don’t think I deserved to be treated that way. When I was there I was a hard-working and loyal player who gave my all. Obviously I’d be delighted to beat United and reach the final but I still have respect for the club. I won’t celebrate if I score. I don’t want to rub their noses in it.”

January 22nd 2010: “In all the press here, Gary Neville came out and stood by Ferguson’s comments, saying that I wasn’t worth £25 million. I thought he was in the wrong because we were team-mates and I never disrespected him, I always respected him. I feel he was a boot-licker when he stood by Ferguson’s comments that I wasn’t worth that money. From a former team-mate it hurts, from a coach it doesn’t surprise me. I would never do that gesture towards the fans, I would never show a lack of respect towards people. It was directed at Gary Neville. Just as I was running off to celebrate the penalty I had scored, I came across Gary and I said to myself, ‘shut your trap, keep quiet’. I didn’t go overboard in my celebration and it was directed at Gary, not at Ferguson and not at the fans. I didn’t even look at Ferguson.

January 26th 2010: “The welcome I received from the moment I arrived at City has been very special. I was made to feel loved and this means a lot to any footballer.”

April 13th 2010: “The players are not happy with this. We are at the end of a long season, we have big matches, we are tired but there are still double training sessions, morning and afternoon. Then, the next day, we train for two hours. I do not understand.”

April 24th 2010: “The defeat to Manchester United was incredible and it would destroy the morale of any squad.”

May 9th 2010: “I have really enjoyed my first season at the club but this is only the beginning. My dream is to help this club become one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the world. What we have to do next is forget about finishing in the top four. That is now a thing of the past. We now need to think about winning the Premier League. That is the right thing for this club and should be our next aim. We need to go all-out for the title and that’s the mindset we need to have from next season.”

August 1st 2010: “I enjoyed so much my two years in Manchester United, but to leave them was the best choice. My era there was finished. City is a smaller team than United, but believe me, it is growing really fast. We played well last season, despite not qualifying for the Champions League.”

September 25th 2010: “When Man United didn’t want me, I had a conversation with Ancelotti but there was never any concrete offer. I only ever talk about proper, written offers – and that was the case with City.”

October 6th 2010: “The only way that I could return to Argentinean football is if my daughter asks me to play again at Boca Juniors, but besides this I see that chance as very difficult. You get tired of having to fight all the time, I want to have some peace. The only way I could return to Argentina is if my daughter or my father asks me to play again at Boca. But if it were up to me I wouldn’t go back to Argentina.”

October 10th 2010: “I have been playing many games this season, and my body is feeling it. I am tired. I started to play when I was really young and I have always fought so much but now I’m feeling the effort. I’m an old guy now, and I started to think about some stuff. For example, I am less tolerant as a person today than I was a few years ago. Then I think – what happens if I quit football as long as I am okay in my life? When I talk about quitting, I mean quitting football, not just the national team. I have worked and fought so hard, and I would love to enjoy my football. But let me tell you I am not enjoying the life of a footballer.”

November 7th 2010: “Will I leave the Premier League? It is possible, but I don’t have a fixed date.”

November 27th 2010: “If you ask me, I would love to have my old life back in my neighbourhood of Fuerte Apache. I don’t want to play anymore. I’m tired of football but I’m also tired of people who work in football. Football is only about money and I don’t like it.”

December 7th 2010: “I’m happy here. I really am.”

December 8th 2010: On ‘Fergie sign him up’ chant – “The thing that would wind up Sir Alex more than anything is for us to win something and really start achieving things. It is not the song that needs to change; it’s the attitude or mindset of our fans. Let’s not be thinking about Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, we need to think of City and what we can do. What we have got to do is not to devote any of our time to United and just focus on ourselves.”

To give some perspective, the percentage of the total goals scored in that season has also been given.

Louis Saha has been included because he was our third highest scorer in 2007, accumulating his highest ever league goal tally, although it should be noted that the conclusions drawn obviously don’t take in to consideration his entire United career, rather just one season.

2006/2007

Goals
Total: 83
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (17) 20%
2nd: Wayne Rooney (14) 17%
3rd: Louis Saha (8) 10%

Assists
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (13)
2nd: Wayne Rooney (11)
3rd: Ryan Giggs (9)

Goals + assists
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (30) 36%
2nd: Wayne Rooney (25) 30%
3rd: Louis Saha (13), Ryan Giggs (13) 16%

2007/2008

Goals
Total: 80
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (31) 39%
2nd: Carlos Tevez (14) 18%
3rd: Wayne Rooney (12) 15%

Assists
1st: Wayne Rooney (13)
2nd: Cristiano Ronaldo (7), Carlos Tevez (7)

Goals + assists
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (38) 48%
2nd: Wayne Rooney (25) 31%
3rd: Carlos Tevez (21) 26%

2008/2009

Goals
Total: 68
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (18) 26%
2nd: Wayne Rooney (12) 18%
3rd: Dimitar Berbatov (9) 13%

Assists
1st: Dimitar Berbatov (10)
2nd: Ryan Giggs (8)
3rd: Michael Carrick (7), Wayne Rooney (7)

Goals + assists
1st: Cristiano Ronaldo (24) 35%
2nd: Dimitar Berbatov (19), Wayne Rooney (19) 28%

2009/2010

Goals
Total: 86
1st: Wayne Rooney (26) 30%
2nd: Dimitar Berbatov (12) 14%
3rd: Ryan Giggs (5), Antonio Valencia (5) 6%

Assists
1st: Ryan Giggs (11)
2nd: Luis Nani (10)
3rd: Antonio Valencia (9)

Goals + assists
1st: Wayne Rooney (31) 36%
2nd: Dimitar Berbatov (19) 22%
3rd: Ryan Giggs (16) 19%

Conclusions
- The average contribution of goals from our top scorer has been 29%.
- The average contribution of goals from our second highest scorer has been 17%.
- The average contribution of goals from our third highest scorer has been 11%.
- The average contribution of goals and assists from our most effective player has been 39%.
- The average contribution of goals and assists from our second most effective player has been 25%.
- The average contribution of goals and assists from our third most effective player has been 22%.
- The most reliant we have been on one player was Cristiano Ronaldo in 07/08 when he scored 39% of our goals and had involvement (scoring or assisting) in 48% of our goals.
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s average involvement in our goals was 40%.
- Wayne Rooney’s average involvement in our goals has been 31%.
- Dimitar Berbatov’s average involvement in our goals has been 25%.
- Carlos Tevez’s average involvement in our goals was 19%.
- Louis Saha’s average involvement in our goals was 16%.

“I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time,” said Tevez today. “The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina. It doesn’t seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club. It doesn’t seem there is a line of communication.”

Translation: United wouldn’t pay me £150,000 a week, City would.

It is truly embarrassing that we liked this guy. What a prick. It’s a shame he’s exposing himself as a complete liar, given what he has said about Sir Alex Ferguson in the past…

April 2nd 2009: “From the moment I arrived, he has treated me with respect as a person. His greatest quality is that, for him, there are no star players – everyone is equal, whether they cost many millions or are a young player who hasn’t played many times for the team. When I see him work he reminds me of Carlos Bianchi, who was my coach at Boca Juniors in Argentina. Both have had a big influence on my career, and both know how to treat people.“

January 4th 2009: “We have not started talks with Manchester United yet, though I am keen to stay. Sir Alex Ferguson has told me he wants me to remain a United player and that is certainly my desire too. My contract ends in the summer and we have agreed to sit down at the end of the season and discuss a new contract, nothing I have heard from the club suggests it will be otherwise. There is simply no reason to sit down now. I have a great relationship with Sir Alex and I hope that will continue long into the future.“

December 16th 2008: “We have been talking about it and everything is very advanced, as a consequence I think it will be sorted soon. I feel respected by my team-mates and by the staff.”

It’s lovely they can be so accepting of someone who clearly has such strong feelings for Manchester United fans.

“The fact that I am not staying at United is not because of the fans, it is because Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill did not do enough to keep me there. If it was down to the fans, I would still be there. They must understand a part of my heart will always be with them. They were always extremely supportive, even when I wasn’t playing.” Tevez said.

We think you’re a cunt Tevez but cheers all the same!

Tevez wanted to stay but the club weren’t prepared to flatter his ego as much as he would like. When he is sitting on City’s bench next season he will wonder what the fuck he was thinking about.

May 1st: “With respect to the fans and the history of Manchester United, I don’t want to leave the club.”

April 2nd: “My loan deal ends in June but I cannot think of any team except United. The United fans love me and my family is very happy, both in Manchester and in England. My thoughts are only about winning titles with United, and if this happens then I hope I will still be here next season. I do not want to play with any other team.”

City fans were out in numbers to welcome their new signing who has United in his heart. Paying £25million for a player who scored just five league goals last season would seem pretty dreadful business to most fans, let alone a player who loves the fans of your biggest rivals, but of course, given that City are so massive, neither of these things seem to bother them.

To echo the thoughts of the footballing world, who in their right mind would turn down Manchester United’s bench for Manchester City’s? Next season will be a laugh! How many players there just for the money can one club have?

Last season, Manchester City played a total of 56 matches in all competitions. 16 of those matches were in the UEFA Cup. Take those matches away and City played a total of 40 matches in all competitions.

This season, City are not in the UEFA Cup, but they will enter the League Cup in the second round (as they did last season where they were knocked out by League One Brighton) and the FA Cup in the third round. If City reach the League Cup final they will play seven games in that competition and if they reach the FA Cup final they will play a further six games. In total, the maximum number of games City can play in is 51.

Given that Manchester City haven’t reached a cup final since 1981, chances of Tevez playing in 51 games for City this season are slim to none.

But how many games did unhappy and disrespected Carlos Tevez play in last season?

Premiership minutes: 1667
Champions League minutes: 436
FA Cup minutes: 300
League Cup minutes: 509
Total minutes: 2912
Total appearances: 51

Tevez played in the equivalent of 32.4 matches for the full 90 minutes, 36.4 matches fo 80 minutes, or 41.6 matches for 70 minutes.

If Manchester City reach the finals of the FA and League Cups, Tevez still will not be able to play in more games for them next season than he did for us last.

To get a better grasp of just how much football Tevez will play in next season, let’s compare this with City’s star man, Robinho.
Premiership minutes: 2454
Champions League minutes: 0
FA Cup minutes: 0
League Cup minutes: 0
Total appearances: 30

Robinho played the equivalent of 27.3 matches for the full 90 minutes. You will have noticed I referred to Champions League minutes and haven’t included the appearances he made in the UEFA Cup. Firstly, this is to highlight Tevez’s step down from Champions League football, but also to recognise how few games are on offer without any European football, which will be City’s situation next season. Some may argue that Robinho would have played in more domestic cup games had he not been rested for Europe.

Total possible FA Cup minutes: 90
Total possible League Cup minutes: 120

So had Robinho featured in all City’s FA and League Cup games, he still would have played 248 fewer minutes than Tevez did for United last season.

Tevez tried to make out he wasn’t all about the money and maybe lots of people bought it. Maybe City fans genuinely think they’ve got this hard-worker who just loves the game in the team, who left United simply because he loves playing so much. However, in reality, he will play less football at City next season than he did at United during a season he felt so ‘disrespected’ and went there just for the money.

The man City fans will be singing for next season was grabbing our badge last season, and still talks of his love for United fans… but will be more than happy to keep picking up his pay cheque from Wastelands!

[edit] It really is a shame City fans can’t get involved in sensible football discussion without talking about Munich. Your comments will continue to be deleted[/edit]

The manager claims he had called and text Tevez to try and sort out a deal but the player never got back to him. It was around the time that Manchester United played Inter Milan and Tevez’s international coach, Diego Maradona, spoke to the press about how the striker should consider playing for Inter Milan.

However, Ferguson believes we got value for money for the years that we did have and wishes him all the best for the future.

“I half expected that a long time back,” said Ferguson. “Maybe in January because I spoke to him and gave him an offer, I think it was on Inter Milan night and he never came back to me. I rang him on holiday, texted him twice and he never got back to me, so he had made his mind up. But he was a good player and he did well for us. It was a good arrangement for two years where we could assess the situation and he assessed us and he obviously wanted to go somewhere else and we wish him well.”

At the end of last month, Tevez made the same claims, although this time was a lot more critical of the manager.

Brian McClair has today spoken about Tevez’s disrespectful nature, saying he hopes the quotes were not true.

“I hope the alleged quote that Carlos Tevez was disrespected by being named as a sub in the Champions League final was wrong,” said McClair. “If it is correct, then it is very disrespectful to the players who were not selected at all.’’

“If I play for Manchester City I don’t think the United fans will feel I am a traitor,” he told The People. “They have to remember that at least as far as I know I have been thrown out of the club and I have to study the best offers available. Leaving came about because I could not stand my sporting situation at Manchester United any longer. My first year was good in all senses. I played in the games and felt respected by the coach but in my second year some strange things happened that I still do not understand. After the game at Old Trafford where Liverpool beat us, Ferguson ignored me almost as if I was to blame for the defeat when really Liverpool dominated us all over the pitch. After that the fans called for me to be in the team but he never took the advice on board because he always knows best. I gave everything for Manchester United and people know that. For that reason I don’t deserve the way things have ended up.”

Carlitos, fuck off and die please Thanks.

“Ferguson still believes I will be at United next season,” Tevez is quoted as saying in The Mirror. “He thinks I will return. But I know what I want and I know that Ferguson did not respect me as a player. Before Berbatov arrived in Manchester, Ferguson told me, ‘You will still be the starting striker, so be cool’. But he lied to me! That is why I know I will not return to United. What I want to do next season is score against United. I promise I will not celebrate in front of the United fans but I will shout in Ferguson’s face. You can be sure of that – and it will be one of the most beautiful things I have done in football.”

Can you remember the last time you were this happy that a player has left our club? I’m struggling.

“You cannot argue with Alex Ferguson,” Tevez said. “He is like the president of England. It is impossible, you always lose. But he made a mistake to leave me on the bench. That was the only final the team had lost since I had been at Manchester United.”

Tevez then goes on to talk about how much he suffered when earning £90,000-a-week to play for the Champions of England and Europe last season.

“My family knows how much I suffered at United,” he added. “I could not arrive home after a match or a training session and forget my pain. It was not good and I transmitted all my sadness to them.”