Carlos Tevez. AP FILE PHOTO
MANCHESTER, England — Carlos Tevez’s turbulent Manchester City career is coming to an end after the Premier League club agreed to sell the Argentina striker to Juventus on Tuesday in a transfer worth up to 12 million pounds ($18.5 million).
A person familiar with the situation said the clubs negotiated a deal in London on Tuesday, with the 29-year-old Tevez still needing to finalize personal terms for a three-year deal and then pass a medical examination. The move could be completed this week.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to confirm British media reports because he was not authorized to discuss details of a deal that is yet to be completed.
By adding the transfer fee to wages and bonuses due in the final year of his contract, City is set to save around 27 million pounds ($41.6 million) by offloading Tevez.
The hard-working striker joined City in 2009 after leaving local rival Manchester United and has played an integral role in the club’s rise as a Premier League force, eventually becoming its captain.
He helped City end its trophy drought by winning the FA Cup in 2011, with the Premier League title arriving the following season.
His four-year spell at the club will forever be remembered, however, by his refusal to come on as a substitute in a Champions League match at Bayern Munich in September 2011, sparking a major fall-out with then-manager Roberto Mancini.
After being told by Mancini that he’d never play for City again, Tevez went on unauthorized leave to Argentina and only returned to Manchester with three months to go that season after failing to secure a move away.
The move to Juve, which won the Serie A title by nine points last season, ends Tevez’s seven-year stint in English football after first moving to the Premier League in 2006 to join West Ham.
At United, which he joined in 2007, Tevez won two league titles and the Champions League — linking up with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in a spell-binding forward lineup. His cross-town departure to City was made even more memorable by the “Welcome to Manchester” poster erected by City fans, infuriating their neighbors.
With City having sold Mario Balotelli to AC Milan in January, it has only Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko as recognized strikers in the squad. Sweden striker John Guidetti is highly rated and may be handed a chance to prove himself at Etihad Stadium next season.
New City manager Manuel Pellegrini is almost certain, however, to dip back into the transfer market to bolster his forward line, which would add to the signings of Spain winger Jesus Navas and Brazil midfielder Fernandinho this offseason.
City has been linked with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.