In 2009, Carlos Tevez made the controversial decision to leave Manchester United for their city rivals, Manchester City. The Argentine had spent two trophy-laden years at Old Trafford but was growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of game time in his second season, following the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.
Tevez had been on loan at United, and Sir Alex Ferguson had initially told him that the club would be buying him. However, after the arrival of Berbatov, Tevez found himself out of the starting XI more often than not. He started just 18 Premier League games that season, scoring five times.
It was before United’s Champions League final clash with Barcelona in Rome that Tevez made his decision to leave. Speaking to ESPNF10, he revealed that he had told Ferguson the day before the final that he was going to Manchester City. Despite his admission, Tevez was called upon at half-time of the final, 20 minutes before Berbatov came on. Neither were able to make an impact, however, with Barca comfortably winning 2-0.
Tevez’s move to City caused a stir in the footballing world, with United fans feeling betrayed by their former hero. In the following weeks, City put up their infamous “Welcome to Manchester” sign, which only added fuel to the fire.
Tevez went on to play 148 times for City, scoring 73 goals and laying on 35 assists. He won a Premier League title and FA Cup during his time at Eastlands before moving to Juventus in 2013.
Looking back on his decision to leave United, Tevez has spoken about the brutal manner in which he told Ferguson. He said that he had made up his mind before the Champions League final and that he simply told Ferguson the day before the game that he was leaving for City.
Despite the controversy surrounding his move, Tevez remains a highly regarded player in the footballing world. He is known for his tenacity and work rate on the pitch, as well as his ability to score important goals. His time at City saw him become a fan favourite, with many supporters still holding him in high regard today.
Overall, Tevez’s move from United to City will go down as one of the most controversial transfers in football history. While it may have caused upset among United fans, it ultimately led to Tevez becoming a key player for City and winning multiple trophies during his time at the club.