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NEV VS TEV

Watch Gary Neville and Carlos Tevez’s agent row on live TV after furious spat over Argentine’s Man Utd behaviour

GARY NEVILLE and Carlos Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian rowed live on TV as their furious spat over the Argentine's behaviour at Manchester United was taken up another notch.

Neville had sensationally claimed Tevez "downed tools" during his spell at Man Utd - "messing around" in his final season, faking injuries and turning up late to training.

 Carragher munched on popcorn as Neville and Joorabchian aired their differences on Sky Sports
Carragher munched on popcorn as Neville and Joorabchian aired their differences on Sky Sports

But Joorabchian hit back, insisting Tevez, who won the Champions League in his debut campaign at Old Trafford in 2007/08, was always "desperate" to play.

And the pair were given the chance to air their differences on Sky Sports' The Football Show - with Jamie Carragher all the while munching on popcorn to complement his morning entertainment.

And Joorabchian got the ball rolling with a fierce defence of his comments - even taking aim at the great Sir Alex Ferguson.

Tevez's agent claimed: "I think Neville was wrong. I often let things go...

"But when you go after somebody and you make a lot of wrong and incorrect statements, letting it go will not do a benefit to the public listening to fake information.

"Gary mentioned about Carlos downing tools in his second year and about people talking in his ear. To that I have three comments...

"In terms of the people he claimed were talking in his ear – who and what was said? Unless you were hacking him or taping him he couldn’t have known what they were saying.

"When Gary compared years one and two, he could not have known too much - he played once, not four times, he was mostly on the treatment table.

"Fergie was one of greatest managers, [I have] nothing but respect.

"I learnt he had his finger on the pulse all the time, he was a strong coach, knew what players doing on and off training, at home, on weekday...

"Gary making those comments of [Tevez's] second year, he is questioning whether Fergie had finger to pulse.

"Sir Alex would not have picked someone 51 times if they were downing tools or being unprofessional unless Gary thinks Sir Alex took his eye off ball."

 The stats suggest Tevez did suffer a dip in form in the second season - with his defensive stats, particularly, demonstrating a lack of effort
The stats suggest Tevez did suffer a dip in form in the second season - with his defensive stats, particularly, demonstrating a lack of effort


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 Gary Neville says his old Man Utd team-mate Carlos Tevez 'downed tools' in his final season
Gary Neville says his old Man Utd team-mate Carlos Tevez 'downed tools' in his final seasonCredit: PA:Press Association

Neville tried to justify his claim by admitting while he may have been a bit harsh on Tevez, he believes what he said was true.

The ex-England defender said: "No doubt in last few months of the season Carlos became disinterested and more sulky that the club weren’t signing him.

"'Down tools' might be crass but Carlos was distracted, different, not anywhere near the level in his last four months at club, you must accept that?"

Joorabchian, defending his client, responded: "When Fergie signed Berba [Dimitar Berbatov], Carlos was put to one side.

"But as season grew, Carlos was more and more involved... I don’t think Carlos was distracted.

"When he scored that goal, ran over to touchline and put his hands to his ears, he was very focused.

"More than anything he was trying to prove to Sir Alex he made a mistake not signing him.

"When Fergie didn’t sign him [being benched for the Champions League final] was the moment that broke Carlos.

"It's not fair to say entire second season he downed tools. Carlos had massive fights with doctors because he refused treatment... he hated the treatment table."

Neville replied by saying he lived through these times closer than anyone - and knew exactly what went on.

The ex-United skipper continued: "Sir Alex wasn’t picking him, he had him on the bench - that’s very different from starting games.

"Through Berba, through the distraction with the offer, pressure with fans singing, media honing in on situation... it became too much for Carlos.

"He was very different in personality and character around club. He switched off because he didn’t feel loved. For the last four months he was not the same player.

"I was in dressing room every single day. To suggest I couldn’t comment on what he was like in year one – I don’t think is correct."

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