Online Reporter
CARLOZ TEVEZ lit up Soccer Aid – and re-lit the fuse with Manchester United fans.
The strike legend has a controversial reputation at Old Trafford from his playing days.
And he somehow managed to rile Red Devils’ supporters during the sell-out charity match even more than he had done two decades ago when he controversially quit for ‘noisy neighbours’ Man City.
The Argentine, 41, came off the bench to hit FOUR goals as the World XI roared back from 3-0 down to snatch a late 5-4 win.
And, after receiving a barrage of boos as he came on, Tevez couldn’t resist winding up the Old Trafford crowd. The three-time Premier League winner first cupped his ear and then lifted the name on the back of his shirt as he celebrated his quickfire haul of goals.
To make things worse for furious United fans, Liverpool’s famous anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was then played over the tannoy as Liverpudlian former hockey star Sam Quek came on as a sub.
Plenty of fans made their point after the frontman was only halfway through his quadruple haul.
Tevez was a United player from 2007-09 —notoriously so, in fact.
And to many fans he soured his stay beyond redemption when a go-or-stay saga ended when his advisors revealing he no longer wanted to play for Alex Ferguson’s team.
Instead he joined fast-rising neighbours Manchester City — for a successful four-year stint.
And although Tevez is long gone from Old Trafford as a player, he’s not forgotten by fuming fans of United.
However, he walked the walk – and almost did it alone — as he led the World XI’s recovery before Big Zuu ‘‘rapped’’ up victory with a 20-yard drill. Admittedly, ‘drilled’ might be an exaggeration — as BZ’s 20-yard near-post shot should never have beaten England keeper Paddy McGuinness.
But the TV presenter made a mess of it – inexplicably trying to save it with his legs and ending up in a tangle. — Sun
Bongani Ndlovu