After Carlos Tevez helped Manchester United win both the
Premier League and Champions League in his first season with the
club, it seemed a certainty that his loan deal would be made
permanent.
No contract was offered during the summer, however, as Sir Alex
Ferguson instead decided to blow most of his transfer kitty on
Bulgarian star Dimitar Berbatov.
And now, with a pre-agreed €34 million price-tag hanging off his
collar, Tevez is struggling to get a game for the Red Devils -
quite remarkable considering he scored 19 goals in all
competitions last term.
Real Madrid and Inter Milan are among a number of clubs who
have in recent months sought talks with Media Sports
Investment (MSI), the firm which owns the Argentine
star's rights.
But the 24-year-old, who is currently holidaying in Buenos
Aires, has insisted that he is not at all perturbed by the
uncertainty surrounding his position at Old Trafford.
Tevez told The Daily Mail: "I am not preoccupied about
my future. My instincts are to stay with the club and in the next
week or so I think there will be more contact with regards to
sorting out my contract. That is what we've been told.
"My agent is in touch with United all the time and he tells me
that everything is very positive now. So it is up to the club.
Other clubs have asked about me but I see my future at United."
Tevez has started just eight out of a possible 18 Premier
League games this season, as he has become the fourth prong in
United's preferred three-man attack of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Berbatov.
And the former West Ham United star admitted that it has not
been easy competing for a first-team place against such a highly
talented batch of attackers.
"It has been a complicated season for me, there is no point
denying that," he said. "I have not been able to get as many
minutes on the field as I would like because the quality of the
forwards at the club is incredible.
"It is not easy for forwards to get into this team and I have
suffered. But that does not make me want to leave. I have no urge
to run away."
Tevez's loan deal with United expires at the end of the
season.