Carlos Tevez was ready to quit ‘money-obsessed’ football in 2010, but is now highest-paid player in world and earns more than the nation of Tuvalu
Former Manchester United and Man City ace makes sensational £32million a year move to China — and his views have changed in past six years
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SIX years ago, Carlos Tevez was ready to quit ‘money-obsessed’ football.
Now, following his stunning £615,000-a-week move to Shanghai Shenhua, he has a bigger GDP than the nation of Tuvalu.
Tevez will bring in £32million-a-year, which is around £200,000 more than that generated by the Oceanic island in 12 months.
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However, back in 2010 the then Manchester City ace was so dismayed with how money-obsessed football had become, he was ready to QUIT.
Tevez, who at that time earned a meagre £145,000-a-week, said: "I don’t want to play anymore.
“I’m tired of football but also tired of people who work in football.
"I’m talking seriously. Football is only about money and I don't like it.
"There are so many agents with really young footballers.
“It’s awful as these young players are not interested in winning titles — they only want money."
And Tevez has previous for completely going back on himself.
In July 2011, he said: “It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club.
“Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for me.
“Everything I do, I do for my daughters, Katie and Florencia.
“I need to be closer to them and to spend more time with them.”
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But, all seemed to be forgotten when Manchester City were on the brink of a maiden Premier League title ten months on.
Speaking in April 2012, he admitted: “It was the project and the dream that made me come to City in the first place.
“I've been here since the start of that project and I share the same vision as Sheikh Mansour.
“He has always been brilliant with me and I want to repay his faith and stay here as long as it takes to make the project a success.
“I am an ambitious person. I want to work hard and win things with City.
“That's all that matters to me, as a player and a person."
Tevez, now 32, left the Premier League after helping West Ham stave off relegation and winning titles with Manchester United and City to join Juventus in 2013.
And, after adding more silverware in Serie A, he returned to boyhood club, Boca Juniors, for what looked to be his career swansong.
His penultimate match for the club was the Super Clasico against arch-rivals, River Plate.
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And he was given an emotional send off by the fans.
He is the latest big-name to move to the Chinese Super League, with Oscar recently leaving Chelsea for Shanghai SIPG.
Tevez will join up with fellow former Premier League stars, Demba Ba and Obafemi Martins at his new club.