Carlos Tevez revealed on the Rio Ferdinand podcast that his choice to move from Manchester United to Manchester City in 2009 was motivated by a promise from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson that was not kept. The Argentine striker, who arrived at Old Trafford on a two-year loan, claims that Ferguson guaranteed him the right to buy after his first season if his performances were satisfactory. "Ferguson told me: 'Carlos, I will pay for your transfer and you will stay in Manchester. We will buy Berbatov, but don't worry: we will take you too,'" Tevez recalled.
According to the former player, that promise remained a dead letter. "Ferguson had six months to keep his word and he didn't. In fact, he started leaving me on the bench. I had the feeling that he wanted to lower my market value, and that was the thing that hurt me the most," explained Tevez. The frustration led him to decide to change sides of Manchester, a step that caused a huge stir. "I loved Manchester United, I gave everything for that shirt, but I didn't receive the same treatment. City was a sort of revenge," he added.
The transfer had an immediate impact, culminating in the famous 'RIP Fergie' banner displayed during City's 2012 Premier League win celebrations. Tevez also admitted that, on the eve of the 2009 Champions League final, Ferguson had told him he was ready to exercise his option to buy. "But by then it was too late. I had already decided: I wouldn't sign and I would have moved to the other side of the city. It was a stab for him, but also for me, because I loved playing at Old Trafford. For me it was like the Bombonera", he concluded.
In summary, the former Argentine striker made it clear that his decision to leave Manchester United was dictated by a broken promise from Ferguson, which led to a transfer that had lasting consequences for both his career and the rivalry between the two Manchester clubs. The future of Tevez, now retired, remains a point of reference for football fans who follow the dynamics between historic clubs and the figures who led them.