Carlos Tevez announces he’s RETIRING after ‘losing his No 1 fan’, his father

Former Manchester City and Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has confirmed his retirement after the Argentinian said he could no longer continue playing following the death of his father last year.

Tevez revealed he had turned down offers from the United States to prolong his trophy-laden yet controversial career as he officially brought his time in football to a close at the age of 38.

The Argentinian, who won three Premier League titles, two Scudetti and the Champions League, last played for Boca Juniors before leaving his boyhood club in June last year.

Carlos Tevez said he did not feel like he could continue with his career after the death of his father (pictured together, centre)

Tevez enjoyed a successful stint at Manchester City after his controversial move from United

Tevez said he had stopped playing after ‘losing his number one fan’ – his adopted father, Segundo Raimundo, who died following complications from Covid-19 in February 2021.

Segundo Raimundo, who adopted the Argentine after his biological father died before he was born, had been fighting for his life for several weeks before his death and had not been given long to live by doctors.

‘Unfortunately, my old man has no chance,’ Tevez said at the time. ‘It is a very difficult time for my whole family. I think I have won 29 titles in my career. This is very difficult for me.

‘To be a father, to explain to my daughters about their grandfather, it’s a very difficult situation for everyone.’ 

The Argentine won back-to-back Premier League titles and the Champions League with United

Tevez confirmed is retirement in a statement: ‘I have retired, it is confirmed.

‘They offered me many things, including from the United States. But that’s it, I have given everything.

‘Playing the last year was very difficult but I was able to see my old man. I stopped playing because I lost my number one fan.’

Tevez earlier this year revealed his struggles with his weight, admitting he had been ‘eating and drinking too much’ after leaving Boca.

His cross-town move sparked the famous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ banner from City

‘I eat empanadas and drink fernet and wine – whatever I want,’ he said. ‘I take care of myself a little, but I now have an extra three or four kilos. I get up a little late. I can’t imagine going back to training and running. 

‘I used to get up at 6am to go training. I would arrive first and be the last to leave. But I don’t have the strength to do that now.’ 

Tevez began his career with Boca Juniors before moving to Corinthians and then to West Ham, where he controversially scored the winning goal on the final day of the season in 2007 to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.

His goal at Old Trafford saw West Ham avoid relegation at the expense of Sheffield United, who lodged a complaint regarding the ownership of the player.

Sheffield United first appealed to have their Premier League place reinstated before seeking damages and eventually reached an out-of-court settlement with West Hammers, worth around £20million. 

The Premier League had fined West Ham £5.5 million in the signing of Tevez and his compatriot Javier Mascherano.

The following year he joined United following a legal dispute with West Ham over the ownership of the player.

Tevez was a cult hero at Old Trafford as he was part of the side which won back-to-back league titles and the Champions League in 2008.

Tevez ended his career where it had started, with Boca Juniors, after turning down MLS offers

His status at United quickly turned from hero to villain, however, as he left to join cross-town rivals City, resulting in the infamous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ banner.

Tevez helped City claim their first trophy in more than three decades when they lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and then the league title in 2012.

The combative frontman made the switch to Juventus in 2013 after four years at City, and spells at Boca and Shanghai Shenhua in China followed before he returned to Argentina in 2018.

Tevez also won 76 caps for Argentina, scoring 13 goals and finishing as a runner-up at three editions of the Copa America.