Martin Swain on Carlos Tevez saga
Wednesday 28th September 2011, 3:30PM BST.
It’s somehow comforting that football continues to make a fool of the world’s wealthiest men, for it confirms even their insane levels of wealth cannot unlock the ancient mysteries of building champions.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s £500m Chelsea ‘project’ has spawned global imitations.
In Russia, fellow oligarch Suleiman Kerimov is paying Samuel Eto’o around £300,000 a week – more than local workers earn in their lifetimes – to try to make something of previously unkown club Anzhi Makhachkala.
And so it goes on. But nowhere have the follies of men – whose wealth could change the world in more meaningful ways – been more symbolised than at Manchester City.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan has so far tossed £750million into Manchester City.
He is so rich that, on the day he signed off the £12million cheque to Aston Villa for Gareth Barry, he made £1.4billion selling an 11 per cent chunk of Barclays bought seven months earlier.
He is so powerful he, reportedly, has President Obama on speed dial. But last night a spoiled little brat from Argentina showed him precisely what he has so far got for his City spending.
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For a lesson in humility look at the British Cycling team on Sunday – seven men buried themselves to get one of their number to a place where he had a chance, a slim chance of winning… and he delivered. I doubt whether this spoilt brat understands that! I hope he sits in the City reserves for a couple of seasons!
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Not worth responding to this other than to say the likes of this player and extremely wealthy owners are what is wrong with the game today.PROPER clubs cannot compete but ‘so what’ I say.
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Makes me even more proud of the Wolves
It must be an unsatisfying reward watching a plastic team like city.
UTW
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money grabbing muppet, to quote mr pullis the manager of stoke, ‘we tend to live in a bubble in football, we need to take a look around at the real world to get a grip sometimes’, yes tevez this means you !!!
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This spoilt little brat just typifies whats wrong with the game today…How long has he been in this country know, and still doesnt speak a word of english,sheer arrogance. And the likes of Moxey wants to now why people are turning the backs on football..! this is one of the reasons, don’t just blame television.
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Apologies if I say this wrong, but tevez keeps bleating on how much he misses his children in Argentina, well Carlos, I do believe your children and ex partner used to live I’m England, it was only when little Carlos started to chase skirt that she upped sticks and left, if your kids mean that much to you, them I am pretty sure you are wealthy enough to retire from football instantly and never have to worry about paying the bills,either stop bleating on and play football or retire and be with your kids, SIMPLES.
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Rumor has it Tevez is going to be player manager at Tranmere, watch this space
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Its hard to have sympathy for Tevez or City. But I do feel some for City supporters who know that the artificial rise of THEIR club has little merit and no foundations. Tevez proves City have gone too far in pursuit of success. Football fans everywhere will be happier and will return to the game with lower wages and gate prices. Success is relative. For most its about winning a bit and playing well some of the time with the hope of success to come. Most fans would reject the takeover by some rich individual of their club if getting a nasty piece of work like Tevez were the result. Come on City fans – support YOUR club and demonstrate against Sheikh Mansoor.
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