The infamous football agent who helped take Carlos Tevez to Manchester City has defended his client after being riled by comments from former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
Kia Joorabchian questioned Neville’s professionalism following comments made about the Argentine striker, as per Sky Sports, yet he clearly had no problem with Tevez’s professionalism when he lifted a ‘RIP Fergie’ banner during City’s title-winning parade in 2012. The striker never apologised for that.
Or when Tevez called Neville a ‘boot-licker’ and an ‘idiot’.
Following claims Tevez “downed tools” in his second season at United, Joorabchian has hit back at Neville. He was asked by Sky Sports if the striker’s attitude was an issue during that campaign: “Absolutely not, he was desperate to play. He scored 15 goals with seven assists, his record was superb.
“Every time, he was available for every game bar the three he missed through injury.
“I think the person’s professional to be question is Gary Neville because he didn’t do his homework on Carlos’ career or as a report to say why Tevez wasn’t [professional]. He never made any phone calls, he never asked the question of me or anyone to know what has happened. He just makes comments time and time again.
“By saying things like that, he is putting a mark on the back of a player who has won double or triple the trophies he has ever won. Carlos has won trophies in every single league he has ever played in, he has been nominated as player of the year in South America more than any other player in history and now, at the age of 34, he’s just won the league and scored the winning goal with Boca Juniors again.”
As a reporter, I’d like to quiz Joorabchian on a few things here.
Neville wasn’t a reporter when Tevez played for United, he was a team-mate. He saw first hand what Tevez was like. I’d still trust his judgement over a hack today — one that may get a reveal all interview with Tevez or his agent spinning their own slant on a story for PR.
Moreover, how can you question Neville’s professionalism as a footballer? He never caused his club any problems and using the fact he was a one-club man as a stick to hit him with is just weird.
Did Neville turn down a move to Boca or something?
Joorabchian went on to add United forced Tevez out of the club: “Generally speaking, Gary Neville spoke about professionalism, the treatment table and he spoke about people being in his (Tevez’s) ear. What he doesn’t understand is, and this is when a reporter should have the correct information, no matter who was in his ear, no matter who was speaking to him, if Man United had wanted to exercise an option, all they had to do was sign a paper and send it to the Premier League.
“He wanted to stay at Man United right after Moscow and winning the Champions League when he came on and he knew what he had to do. He had to get under Chelsea’s skin, he got [Didier] Drogba sent off and they ended u[ on penalties, which they won, and it was a great moment.
“They came back and him, [Wayne] Rooney and [Cristiano] Ronaldo had a great combination going forward, they were very happy, but Man United didn’t exercise the option. It was as simple as that.
“Gary Neville is speaking about people being in his ear as if Tevez decided at that point to leave during that year, but it was Man United who didn’t exercise that option. Tevez only decided after the option had expired that he had been sitting there for nine months and no one has exercised the option.”
There is a lot of bad blood between Tevez and Neville, but I know what side I’m taking…
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