THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Carlos Tevez has been given an offer to remain at the English Premier League club, a claim immediately dismissed by the striker’s representatives.
The confusion on Wednesday came after Tevez scored the game-tying goal as the Red Devils rallied to beat Wigan 2-1, leaving them needing just one point from their last two matches to win a third straight league title.
The Argentina international said at the weekend that he was resigned to leaving United at the end of the season when his two-year loan deal expires because there has been no attempt to negotiate a transfer deal with the investment company that owns his registration.
But after praising Tevez’s substitute appearance at Wigan, Ferguson said progress has been made by the club’s chief executive David Gill.
“He is a fantastic player — he knows I want him to stay,” Ferguson said. “David Gill has had a good meeting and I have spoken to him. We have given him an offer and we hope he accepts.
“The problem is we are not negotiating with a football club.”
Tevez’s adviser Kia Joorabchian, who brought Tevez to England in 2006 through a controversial loan move to West Ham, is leading negotiations.
“It is true David Gill came to see Mr. Joorabchian and they had a cordial meeting,” said a statement from Tevez’s advisers in response to Ferguson’s post-match interview. “It is categorically untrue that Manchester United made an offer to try to persuade Carlos Tevez to stay at the club.
“In 2007 Manchester United agreed a two-year loan deal for Carlos Tevez and at the same time agreed the terms that would make the transfer permanent. They have not taken up that option.”