Thursday, 27th June, 2013
Carlos Tevez insists he is no stranger to the task of replicating the performances of legends, as his Juventus career starts with him wearing the iconic number 10 shirt.
Tevez passed his medical at the club’s headquarters yesterday, and was subsequently confirmed as having penned a three-year deal.
He has been given the shirt previously worn by Alessandro Del Piero during his 19 years at Juventus, but Tevez was unfazed by the weight of responsibility, citing his experience with Boca Juniors and another legend.
"I feel the responsibility of wearing this shirt; it is a great responsibility, that of representing Juventus", he told a press conference.
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"This number provides a great challenge because top players have used it before. [But] I had number 10 with Boca where Maradona played.
"Juventus is a great club to play for and, certainly, the greatest challenge is to do my best."
The signing brought an end to months of speculation, where the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and even Boca Juniors were linked with the Argentine.
Despite a public falling out with ex-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini in 2011, Tevez has bagged a total of 148 games for the Citizens, nearly 50 more than with rivals Manchester United.
He had been frozen out for a large part of the 2011/12 season but returned following a truce to help Manchester City to the Premier League title – scoring a hat-trick as well along the way against Norwich City.
And when asked if his relationship with Juventus coach Antonio Conte could suffer similar setbacks, Tevez’s curt reply was: "It’s simple. Respect is what matters the most in a relationship with a manager. Nothing else."
The Argentine has been recruited with the clear intention of aiming for Champions League glory, with the title already back in Turin, while Fernando Llorente was also brought from Athletic Bilbao.
The pair are expected to work together, and Tevez is not worried about Conte shuffling things about for the objectives that lie ahead for Juventus.
"Whether [me and Llorente] will work well or not, that will be up to Conte to decide", he added. "The two things that I can bring are experience and quality of play. These are the most important things I can give.
"It is our obligation and wish to win the Scudetto. Obviously, we want to win the Champions League as well. Juventus are a very strong team but I want to take things gradually and step-by-step.
"Italian football is one of the most difficult and one of the most beautiful leagues. I am motivated to play here. It has always been a dream and it has come true."
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