Ask any Sheffield United fan just what they feel when the name Carlos Tevez is brought up.
Better still, allow me.
Hey, Soccer Central associate producer Thomas Dobby! Yeah you, the guy who was born a United fan, the one that has Blades ink emblazoned across his body. How does Carlos Tevez make you feel?
"Jaded, resentful, spiteful, forlorn."
Truth is there were other words used, but they are not suitable for this column. More on Sheffield United later.
Funny thing is, those same words would ring out from fans of most of Carlos Tevez’s previous clubs. He’s a player that is as enigmatic as he is brilliant, as poisonous as he is passionate; it really is possible to love and hate him all at once.
This week, the Tevez circus took its act to Italy with Juventus. Finally, after three years of controversy and trophies, he was jettisoned from Manchester City, as Manuel Pellegrini was obviously not prepared to walk the tight rope under the big top alongside the 29 year old from Argentina.
His City career followed a very familiar pattern, one that also played out when he featured at Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham and Manchester United. At every club he entertained and scored big goals, but also he left each team with a sour taste in their mouths.
At Boca, Corinthians, West Ham and Manchester United the cloudy specter of "third party ownership" was always hovering over Tevez. Just who owned his rights? Whoever it was, be it the shadowy figure of Kia Joorabchian or the numerous companies associated with the player, the situation caused much angst and confusion.
In fact West Ham was eventually ordered to pay Sheffield United twenty million pounds after Tevez’s goals steered the Hammers to survival in 2006-2007 at the expense of the aforementioned Blades. Essentially he was playing illegally. Still no harm done, right? Sorry Tom.
At Manchester United he was an on-loan player, perhaps the only way Sir Alex Ferguson could justify his presence. But dealing with that "ownership" issue and its demands was something Fergie wouldn’t tolerate, even if it meant seeing him leave for the "noisy neighbours" Manchester City.
Make no mistake about it, it was a statement transfer by City. They even bought a billboard in town bragging about the signing, but after three years, was he really a success? Probably. He did score some goals, although he was far from prolific, and City did capture a Premiership title with Tevez as an integral… oh wait, he wasn’t was he? Tevez spent five months on "gardening leave" after he refused to take to the pitch from the bench in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
Yet he was welcomed back by the club, and therein is another example of the two faces of Carlos Tevez. Refusing to take to the field is as despicable an act as any sportsman can commit, but Manchester City just knew that if he returned happy he could be brilliant; a brilliant Tevez can lead any team to the Promised Land. Three months later, City were champions.
Carlos Tévez poses next to a Bianconeri legend, Omar #Sivori at #JuventusMuseum #WelcomeCarlitos pic.twitter.com/ojQMq5Ay1Z
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) June 27, 2013
This is a man who broke the South American transfer record when he moved to Corinthians. It was mere weeks after he said that he had to leave Boca because of the pressure, and the stress it caused his family. Of course jumping from Boca, one of Argentina’s biggest clubs, to Corinthians, arguably Brazil’s biggest team, is hardly a way of diffusing pressure and making life easier. Could it actually have been about the money?
His stay at Corinthians didn’t last long, as he refused to play by the end of his tenure, before shocking the world and moving to West Ham. Of course we’ve already been there haven’t we?
Juventus is paying Manchester City twelve million pounds for Tevez. Frankly, as a footballing transaction it is a steal, but just ask yourself two things: First, how badly did City want to rid itself of this player to kick him out for a knock down price, and second, if that was not the reason, just why was no other club prepared to offer more money?
Everybody knows about Tevez and his baggage. He can be a short-term solution, and no doubt he will be a success at Juventus who need goals and need a star man up front. But after two years, the same story will be written: Tevez will tire, or will have his head turned by an agent, and he’ll leave, and it will not be a pleasant divorce.
It never is with Carlos Tevez.
James Sharman is a Sportsnet commentator and co-anchor of SoccerCentral, an hour-long soccer news show airing seven nights a week on Sportsnet World at 11pm ET. Catch the replay of SoccerCentral the next day on Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet East at 1pm ET. Follow James on Twitter.