Carlos Tevez has announced his retirement from football for good after losing his "number one fan".
The Argentine last played for Boca Juniors in his homeland, but left his boyhood club last June. Prior to that he'd enjoyed a hugely successful period in Europe, playing for some of the biggest clubs before a brief stint in China.
Tevez has stopped playing after his adopted father, Segundo Raimundo, died from Covid in February last year. Raimundo was the player's adopted father after his biological father died before he was born. He knew he didn't have long to live after being told he was fighting for his life, before eventually succumbing to the illness.
It has left its mark on Tevez, who has now decided to leave football behind. He confirmed his retirement in a statement: "I have retired, it is confirmed. They offered me many things, including from the United States. But that's it, I have given everything. Playing the last year was very difficult but I was able to see my old man. I stopped playing because I lost my number one fan."
At the time he knew his adopted father was struggling he said: "Unfortunately, my old man has no chance. It is a very difficult time for my whole family. I think I have won 29 titles in my career. This is very difficult for me. To be a father, to explain to my daughters about their grandfather, it's a very difficult situation for everyone."
Tevez was a hot property when he began making a name for himself in Argentina but the football world was shocked by a swoop from West Ham United over a decade ago. The forward's class told and he helped keep the Hammers in the Premier League before moving to Manchester United.
There he played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, helping the Red Devils win several Premier Leagues and the Champions League. He made a controversial switch across to neighbours Manchester City when they began splashing the cash. He helped those on the blue half capture their first Premier League crown in 2012.
A move to Juventus followed, where he added more trophies, before heading back home to Boca in 2015. Tevez has since revealed his struggles with his weight, confessing that he'd been indulging after leaving Boca.
He said: "I eat empanadas and drink fernet and wine - whatever I want. I take care of myself a little, but I now have an extra three or four kilos. I get up a little late. I can't imagine going back to training and running. I used to get up at 6am to go training. I would arrive first and be the last to leave. But I don't have the strength to do that now."
