Two years ago today, on July 13 2015, Carlos Tevez left Juventus to return “home” to Boca Juniors, but Adam Digby explains why he was as beloved in Turin as he ever was in his homeland.
Gigi Buffon looked wistfully at the trophy. A tearful Andrea Pirlo was hugged by Paul Pogba. Juventus boss Max Allegri offered words of encouragement to various members of his team, understanding that they had done their best and were still found wanting as Barcelona – with their MSN attack in full flow – had eventually found a way to unlock the resolute Bianconeri backline.
The 2015 Champions League final ended in a 3-1 victory for the Catalan giants, who were heavy pre-match favourites thanks to the presence of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Yet for a brief second-half spell, the Old Lady had stood toe-to-toe with this incredible Blaugrana side and appeared as if they could snatch a victory that would have shocked the world.
From the moment Alvaro Morata’s 55th-minute equaliser hit the back of the net until Luis Suarez scored Barca’s second goal, Juventus dominated. It was a joyful, if ultimately short-lived, moment that gave belief to the Italian side’s vociferous travelling support, and it was largely due to the immense display of the man in their number 10 shirt.
#Bernardeschi? 😉😊👏⚫️⚪️
Perhaps the biggest compliment one can pay Carlos Tevez is the fact that wearing that most prestigious of jerseys caused no resentment among Juve fans. They understand its value all too well, watching Omar Sivori, Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio all win the Ballon d’Or with it on their backs, before Alessandro Del Piero made it his own.
The long-serving club Captain was handed the No.10 when Baggio was sold to AC Milan and wore it until he departed for Sydney FC in 2012, with no player assigned it for the following season as a mark of respect. “He is a person and player that I greatly respect and who certainly represents an emblem and symbol of esteem,” Tevez said of Del Piero when he first signed for Juventus. “It’s a great pleasure and honour to wear this jersey with his number.”
Initially there were questions as to how he would fare following the move from Manchester City, but the fiery Argentinian quickly dismissed them. Often seen as a mercenary who was only interested in his next big payday, Tevez was an unstoppable force in Turin, single-handedly winning matches and – perhaps even more importantly – raising the standards of every player in the squad.
The presence of Buffon, Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini meant that he would never wear the captain’s armband, but there was no doubt he was a leader, holding his team-mates accountable every time he stepped on the field. Strong and vocal, there were none of the spats that blighted his time under Roberto Mancini, and when Max Allegri replaced Antonio Conte, Tevez would improve further still.
5️⃣0️⃣ goals as a Bianconero, was this his best? 🔥⚽️
Given even greater freedom by the new boss, Tevez thrived behind Morata and the young Spaniard worked hard to match his strike partner’s work rate and intensity. The goals flowed, with perhaps the one shown above the pick of the bunch, a slaloming run against Parma that highlighted every positive facet of his play. Shrugging off a defender who almost grabbed him in a headlock, he drove past two more would-be tacklers before slamming the ball beyond helpless goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.
It was undoubtedly the best of the 50 he scored in just 95 appearances for Juventus, but it was not even close to being his most important. Winning efforts in the derby with Torino, against Milan, Roma and Fiorentina showcased how quickly he acclimatised to Serie A, while vital Champions League strikes saw off Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid as he led the Old Lady to the final for the first time since 2003.
Even as Juventus lost, it was once again the former Boca Juniors star who had given them hope, his shot on the turn parried into Morata’s path by Marc-André ter Stegen and the Spaniard made no mistake. That the Bianconeri failed to secure victory in his final outing should not detract from the incredible impact Tevez made upon them and he arguably deserved to follow the club’s other famous No.10s in being recognised by the Ballon d’Or voters.
He is not as appreciated as he should be, but that two-year stint will never be forgotten by fans of Italy’s most successful club. A tough upbringing in the tough Buenos Aries neighbourhood of Fuerte Apache drove Tevez to be a snarling force of nature with an insatiable will to win, fighting for every ball and never quitting no matter how insurmountable the odds.
But the temptation to reduce his performances into simple a discussion of passion and effort is to do him a huge disservice. He was also blessed with an unbelievably high level of skill and talent that meant he should have been regarded alongside the continent’s very best players, only for the same relentless effort that should set Tevez apart from his peers to actually somehow be counted against him.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and others make the game look simple, while he looks like a man who sweats for the cause, carrying the hopes and dreams of those in the stands on his shoulders as he gives maximum effort for club and country. Those attributes will always be appreciated in Turin, the city Carlos Tevez – arguably the most underrated star of recent times – left behind two years ago today. Gracie Carlitos!
