Joorabchian: Corinthians has made offer for Tevez

LONDON (AP)—Carlos Tevez’s representative confirmed Tuesday that Corinthians has made an offer for the Argentina striker, adding that Manchester City must now decide whether to accept it.

Tevez has long been unhappy in Manchester because his wife and daughters moved back to Argentina after failing to settle and Kia Joorabchian said the player would happily return to the Brazilian club to be closer to his family.

The 27-year-old Tevez spent two years with Corinthians, becoming the first non-Brazilian to win the league’s player of the season award for 29 years, before moving to England’s Premier League in 2006.

“He didn’t leave under a cloud at all,” Joorabchian said. “He was captain of the club and top goal scorer. He’s probably one of their biggest idols and has remained one of their biggest idols. The fans there are absolutely crazy about him. They adore him.

“He would have no problem going back there.”

British media widely report that Corinthians offered ?40 million ($56.2 million) for the Manchester City captain.

Tevez most vehemently expressed his wish to quit City in December, when Joorabchian cited City’s failure to meet the player’s expectations. City has since qualified for the Champions League and won the FA Cup, ending a 35-year stretch without a trophy.

Joorabchian told Sky Sports News that his family was now the only issue.

“He’s lived there four years and he’s a professional,” Joorabchian said. “He has no qualms. Unfortunately his wife and daughters have not been able to adapt. They returned back to Argentina and the commute was very hard for Carlos.”

Tevez had reportedly been hoping for a transfer to Italy or Spain, countries in which his Spanish-speaking family could settle with more ease.

But Joorabchian said reports that Real Madrid had made an offer for him were incorrect.

“It’s very difficult to start speculating,” Joorabchian said. “The reality is Corinthians has made an offer and we’ve never spoken to Real Madrid. Real Madrid has not made an offer.”

But despite two years with Corinthians, one with West Ham, two with Manchester United and two with City, Joorabchian denied suggestions that Tevez was a player that simply liked to switch clubs regularly.

He said Tevez was forced to leave lowly West Ham because of its financial problems and was only contracted to United for two years.

“I don’t think that he is a player that moves,” Joorabchian said. “Circumstances have been created that forced him to move. In England, the only contract he would maybe be cutting short is at City.”