Tevez says goodbye to English football

first FA Cup win in 42 years, went AWOL, returned, and helped them celebrate their unforgettable title victory in 2011.

There is more. He cost the Hammers £25million in compensation (which they’ve only just paid off), left Old Trafford on seemingly bad terms with Sir Alex Ferguson after joining United’s noisy neighbours (remember that ‘Welcome to Manchester’ billboard?) and there was, of course, THAT night in Munich when he spectacularly fell out with Roberto Mancini.

Then there were the driving bans and the community service — now he’s off to Italy, does he have to return to complete those 200 hours?
There are many more trials and tribulations that you might remember during his tumultuous stay.

But I will add this: I will miss him. Most City supporters will miss him. The Premier League will certainly miss him.
For £10m, Juventus have landed an absolute bargain. The warrior from Fuerte Apache fought his way to survival at Upton Park and scrapped for the big honours in the north-west.

For me, Tevez should go down as one of the best ever Premier League foreign imports, alongside the likes of Cantona, Bergkamp, Henry, Di Canio et al. I remember how exciting it was when he and Javier Mascherano arrived in east London. I was at the Boleyn Ground for their big unveiling. I sat in awe thinking how on earth have West Ham signed a player like Tevez? When I spoke to then-Hammers boss Alan Pardew afterwards, I’m not sure he could believe it either.

It took Tevez 19 games to get going in England but since that explosive free-kick against Tottenham in March 2007, the Argentina forward scored 84 goals in the top-flight alone (in all competitions he notched 74 times in 148 appearances for City).

At 29, perhaps this was Manchester City’s last chance to get a big fee for him. Indeed, it was an opportune moment to make a clean break from the club with the arrival of a new manager in Manuel Pellegrini, who can now benefit from using Tevez’s huge pay packet to lure a replacement (perhaps Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski).

Pellegrini will need a replacement, as Michael Owen pointed out on Twitter: ‘‘Have City sold their best striker? You’d have to expect them to replace him with a huge signing. They look light up front all of a sudden.’’ What a player Tevez is. A box office player. A player who would get you off the edge of your seat, entertain and win games on his own. And a player, as a West Ham fan, I will always adore (I wanted to name my first born ‘Carlos’, but the missus intervened).

Cult City hero Paul Lake tweeted this morning: ‘I’ll miss Tevez. Some sublime performances & quality goals. Loved his infectious enthusiasm’.
There’s only one Carlos Tevez. — Mailonline.