Attempting To Explain The Tevez Affair
Who actually owns Carlos Tevez?
Well, not Kia Joorabchian as some reports erroneously suggest, or even MSI - who are thought to have all-but ceased trading - but an unnamed collection of investors who are represented publicly by Joorabchian, who also happens to be Tevez' agent and mentor.
But isn't third-party ownership banned in the Premier League?
It is now, but this third-party agreement was in operation before the rule change so the Premier League has made an exception. West Ham's problem was that a) they did not disclose the details and b) their Tevez and Mascherano contracts stipulated that the players' owners had ultimate rights over the footballers. Manchester United's contract says otherwise - that Tevez' owners retain economic rights but must have no sway over the player for as long as he is leased to United. That breaches no Premier League rules.
So what agreement did United have with these investors?BR>That they would lease Tevez at a cost of around £4-5m a year plus wages. Part of the agreement stipulated that a final payment of anything between £22m and £25m (depending on the report) would secure the permanent transfer of Tevez. That money would be divided between the investors and United would have complete ownership of the Argentine.
So what's the problem?
Well, they don't want to pay. Like someone who has been, ahem, making love with someone for two years with no commitment, they're now rather unwilling to pay for the big wedding. Tevez has become in essence a back-up striker and they are unwilling to pay £20m-plus for a back-up striker and so are trying to get him on the cheap. But the contract is watertight and the only chance of getting Tevez on a permanent deal is to honour the contract.
Will any other clubs pay that asking price?Well, the asking price becomes null and void as soon as the leasing agreement is up. Tevez can be sold for whatever price a club is willing to pay - that could be £25m or it could be £40m. Chelsea or Manchester City could end up signing Tevez for a lot less than United agreed to pay in total.
What does Tevez want to do?
Ideally, he wants United to honour the agreement so he can stay at a club he clearly loves, saying recently: "I want to stay in Manchester for all of my career." He clearly feels betrayed that - having given United unparalleled effort over the last two years - the club are unwilling to pay a price they agreed two years ago. If staying at United proves impossible, he has indicated that he wants to stay in England, with Manchester City and Liverpool coming into the equation.
Why doesn't Tevez just break off with Joorabchian?
They have a very close relationship going back several years, with Tevez saying: "He is my friend and my mentor. He is the godfather to my daughter and he is someone I trust and respect." As much as the British media wants to paint Joorabchian as a villain, the truth is that Tevez obviously feels indebted to him for giving him his lifestyle at one of the world's biggest clubs. It's all very well The Sun rolling out an MEP to say that Tevez could break his contract, but we're not talking about an employer/employee relationship here, we're talking about friends.
Sarah Winterburn
so United is most likely trying to come to a agreement for him to stay without having to fork over an arm and leg?