Carlos Tevez

CORINTHIANS

In December 2004 Carlos Tevez signed for Brazilian Club Corinthians in a deal worth in excess of $20 million. The deal was the largest in South American football history and was orchestrated by Kia Joorabchian, founder of Media Sports Investments who own a stake in the club. The deal was highly publicised drawing plaudits and criticism in equal measure.

Even club president Lula (pictured below) was critical of the signing along with some of the hardcore fan base at the Estádio do Pacaembu. Carlos Tevez signed a record breaking $10 million deal smashing the wage structure of a club with a predominantly Brazilian squad. This caused resentment in the dressing room leading to friction with his team mates.

Tevez was again thrust into the spotlight for the wrong reasons when a training session turned into a fist fight with Brazilian defender Marquinos. The fight was caught on camera and broadcast on Brazilian television. Controversy was never far away with Tevez, bans for swearing at the referee and fines for making sexist comments about women officiating football matches brought attention for the wrong reasons.

Carlos Tevez signing for Corinthians

Corinthians Stats:
2005 - 2006
Apps: 47
Goals: 31

However despite living a soap opera lifestyle Tevez won over the fans of Corinthians and the Brazilian public with some breathtaking displays. Tevez became the captain of Corinthians and was an integral part of the team that won the Brazilian league in 2005, there first title in 6 years. Carlos went on to score an incredible 25 goals in just 38 appearances for Corinthians. The praise was lavished on Tevez as he became the first non Brazilian player to be awarded player of the year since 1976.

Corinthians Carlos Tevez

The struggles that Carlos had to overcome during his time at Corinthians and in the past in Argentina are a measure of the mental strength of this young gifted footballer. But with this success came constant speculation about the players future. Tevez was being linked with all the top sides in Europe and no one could of predicted what happened next.