CARLOS TEVEZ’s agent has hammered Gary Neville for claiming the striker “downed tools” at Manchester United.
Kia Joorabchian disputed Old Trafford legend Nev‘s verdict that Tevez quickly went from being part of the Premier League’s best ever front three to “messing about”.
Argentina superstar Tevez angered many United fans by leaving for neighbours City in 2009, where he added another Prem title to the two he won at Old Trafford.
And ex-United skipper Neville told Sky Sports: “What annoyed me about Tevez was that he downed tools in his second season.
“I felt disappointed that, as a professional, he didn’t act the right way.
“He started sitting on the treatment table, started coming out late for training, started messing around.
“I understood that he had circumstances, but his people were in his ear all the time and he was so led by his people. It was always going to come to an end like it did.”
Former England right-back Neville was particularly frustrated because of how highly he rated the Argentina superstar’s form the previous year.
He said: “We talk about the best front threes in the Premier League. You’ll never beat those three for me.
“You can talk about [Sadio] Mane, [Mohamed] Salah and [Roberto] Firmino, I love them to bits. [Raheem] Sterling, [Sergio] Aguero and [Leroy] Sane at City as well.
“But that front three of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez at their peak was out of this world.”
Joorabchian, though, insists Tevez, who also won the Champions League in his debut term at Old Trafford, was always “desperate” to play in his final season.
And he claims Old Trafford chiefs rejected the chance to sign him permanently from West Ham, amid controversy over third-party ownership of the player by Media Sports Investment.
Joorabchian told Sky Sports: “He scored 15 goals with seven assists, his record was superb. Every time, he was available for every game bar the three he missed through injury.
“I think the person’s professionalism to be questioned is Gary Neville because he didn’t do his homework on Carlos’ career.
“By saying things like that, he is putting a mark on the back of a player who has won double or triple the trophies he has ever won.
“And now, at the age of 34 [Tevez is 36], he’s just won the league and scored the winning goal with Boca Juniors again.”
He added: “”He wanted to stay at Man United right after Moscow and winning the Champions League when he came on and he knew what he had to do.
“He had to get under Chelsea’s skin, he got [Didier] Drogba sent off and they ended up on penalties, which they won, and it was a great moment.
“They came back and him, Rooney and Ronaldo had a great combination going forward, they were very happy, but Man United didn’t exercise the option. It was as simple as that. ”
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