BOCA JUNIORS HAVE distanced themselves from suggestions a return for club icon Carlos Tevez is imminent, saying they are “oblivious to any negotiation”.
Tevez left Juventus in 2015 to return to La Bombonera, but after helping them to the Primera Division title that year he was tempted to the Chinese Super League with a lucrative offer from Shanghai Shenhua.
The 33-year-old is widely believed to be the best-paid player in the world, but talk of a move back to Boca emerged amid disappointing form – he scored just four goals in 16 appearances in the CSL.
Boca vice-president Horacio Paolini claimed at the weekend that a deal would be completed this week – comments president Daniel Angelici branded “irresponsible” – but a statement from the club suggests that is not the case.
“Boca Juniors want to clarify it has not had any conversation with Carlos Tevez about his future incorporation and it is oblivious to any negotiation that may exist between the player and his current club in relation to their contractual situation,” read the release.
“As far as Boca are concerned, the player has a contract in force with the Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua until the end of 2018 and we don’t know if there is a chance to rescind the link.
“Boca, oblivious to the outcome of this particular situation between the parties in question, clarify that the club is characterised by its prudence and that it has always been and will be very respectful of this type of situation.”
Boca’s vice-president Horacio Paolini had previously suggested that an agreement for Tevez was close and that a move was likely to happen.
He told TyC Sports: “It should be resolved these days. “I am permanently with him. We live six blocks away, I saw him for the last time last week and we had a little barbecue.
“I am optimistic.”
It appears as though that optimism may have been misplaced, with Tevez now facing an uncertain future. He has been informed by Shenhua that if he is to remain at the club, then he will need to be back in China by Boxing Day.
Club spokesman Ma Yue told reporters: “We have informed him that he would have to return to the squad on December 26.
“But whether he will come back or not, it depends on his own decision.”
Prior to his move to China, Tevez found the target more than 270 times over the course of a trophy-laden club career.
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