The irony was not lost on Cristiano Ronaldo. As he
pondered the question, a smile spread across his face, quickly
followed by a few splutters of laughter. So, Cristiano, will Carlos
Tévez stay at Manchester United beyond the summer?
“Yes, definitely,” Ronaldo said when asked if he hoped the
Argentina striker would remain at Old Trafford beyond the end of
his complicated two-year “lease” agreement in June.
The future of Tévez, who has also attracted interest from
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Not for the first time, United supporters left the manager in no
doubt about their feelings about Tévez during the 1-0 victory over
Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on
Wednesday when Old Trafford reverberated to the cries of “Fergie,
sign him up.”
It was Tévez’s first start in the Champions League knockout
rounds and he responded with a typically industrious display that
might easily have yielded a goal had it not been for the heroics of
Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal. The Argentina forward has,
however, struggled to mask his frustration at his fall from favour
since the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur last
September.
United must pay £22 million to the companies, headed by Kia
Joorabchian, that own Tévez’s economic rights to secure his
permanent signature, but even if an agreement is reached it is
unclear if the player would want to stay.
“It was a good thing for me to start the game against Arsenal
but it’s very difficult to say [if I will still be at United next
season], I don’t know,” Tévez said.
His affection for the fans, though, was unequivocal. “I know the
fans chant my name and sing the song about the manager signing me,”
he said. “They have always been very good to me and it’s emotional
for me.” Tévez could be back on the substitutes’ bench for the
Barclays Premier League game away to Middlesbrough tomorrow
lunchtime, when United will be without Rio Ferdinand, the defender,
who may also miss the second leg against Arsenal on Tuesday with a
rib injury that was being carefully assessed yesterday.
“I can understand his frustration and you have to respect his
decisions, but I still believe he’s going to stay here in
Manchester,” Ronaldo said.
Tévez’s treatment has served only to heighten the resentment
towards Berbatov and the Bulgaria striker conceded yesterday that
the ill-feeling had affected him. “I have to thank my team-mates
and especially Sir Alex for their help after the criticism,” he
said.
