The Times this morning have made an astonishing claim that Carlos Tevez’ move to Eastlands has cost the club an incredible £47m, almost double the fee of £25m they are touted as paying.
The newspaper claims City paid an initial £15m for the player with two further payments of £16m, taking the bill to £47m. Add this to Tevez’ supposed wages and the cost inflates further £54.5m. They are also alleging City owner Sheikh Mansour will pay an additional £3.5m if City win the Champions League while Tevez is at the club.
A spokesman for Kia Joorabchian, the businessman who fronts the group that owned the rights to Tevez, has said the figure is ‘not true’ and a formal statement from Joorabchian is expected today. City may also release a statement refuting the claims.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whom Tevez played under at Old Trafford last season, stated in the summer that Tevez was not worth £25m and will surely have something to say about the claims made this morning. With the derby at Old Trafford coming up next weekend, it is almost certain that his mind games will start and no doubt his comments will surface at some point over the weekend.
Also in today’s news, new boy Emmanuel Adebayor claims Arsenal forced him out of the club for financial reasons. Adebayor states he told boss Arsene Wenger that he ‘would not leave the club,’ but Wenger replied by saying that they had to sell because financially, the club was very bad.’ Adebayor’s comments is certain to fuel the fire already burning ahead of today’s game at Eastlands, where the striker will line up against his former club, as will Kolo Toure.
Meanwhile Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has had a pop at the club ahead of today’s game against Arsenal. The Dutch striker has claimed in The Sun that money doesn’t guarantee success. Sorry Robin, you missed the boat on this one. All comments like this came last season and over the summer. Come on Robin, get keep up will you?