CARLOS TEVEZ’S representatives are in talks with Paris St-Germain about his joining the French club from Manchester City, according to the head coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Although it is understood PSG have yet to make a formal offer to City, who will not countenance a loan deal for the Argentinian, Ancelotti revealed that the club’s director of football, Leonardo, is leading the negotiations.
“Everyone knows that we want a striker,” Ancelotti said. “Carlos Tevez – it’s a great opportunity for us to have a great striker. Today Tevez isn’t playing for Manchester City but he wants to play.
“Nothing is done. We have to talk with the player and with Manchester City. I think that if we talk to Tevez, he will see he wants to come. We hope to find a good solution. I haven’t had him on the phone, not him or his agent. It’s Leonardo who is looking after that.”
Despite Tevez not having played since September 21st in an EnglishLeague Cup game against Birmingham City, Ancelotti has no concerns regarding the player’s fitness.
“Tevez isn’t a problem,” the former Chelsea manager said. “He is a great player. In 15 days he could get back into great physical condition. If Tevez doesn’t come, we have the possibility of buying another striker. In January it’s harder to get players. And at the end of the month the transfer window is over. I look forward to it ending because I am very stressed.”
Inter Milan and AC Milan had appeared the favourites to sign Tevez, with Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, offering City around €25 million to take the 27-year-old from Eastlands, where his career has stalled since he refused to warm up for a Champions League group game at Bayern Munich in late September.
The bid fell short of City’s valuation, which is thought to be closer to €30 million, though this may drop at the end of the month. Both Milan clubs could still decide to re-enter the market for a player who is in his homeland after returning there without permission from City.
If PSG or either of the Milan clubs fail to sign Tevez, Tottenham Hotspur retain an interest, with Harry Redknapp, the manager, an admirer of the forward. But he has stated that Tevez’s €240,000-a-week salary is unviable for Spurs, saying: “He is a special player, the type of player who could make the difference, but I wouldn’t think that’s a real possibility.”
It is also likely that City would be reluctant to sell Tevez to one of their main title rivals.
PSG, since being bought by the Qatar Investment Authority, have spent heavily, with Ancelotti’s arrival following that of Tevez’s countryman Javier Pastore, who cost around €43 million from Palermo.
David Beckham considered a move to the French capital before signing a two-year deal with Los Angeles Galaxy.
The former Manchester United midfielder insists he feels there is still more to achieve in America as he enters the final chapter of his career.
“It was a decision that I didn’t take lightly,” he said. “I had other offers and at 36 you don’t expect to get these. The future of the game is in the US and where my family is happiest. I love living in LA, I love living in America.
“For me, soccer’s the number one sport around the world, apart from America. I want to get soccer to another level in the US.”
