Tevez earned his Premier League stripes at West Ham after a controversial move from Corinthians in 2006. He proved indispensable in the Hammers’ successful battle against the drop, netting seven times in the last ten games of the season.
The Argentine international’s stellar form earned him a move to Old Trafford last summer, and he has continued to impress with his hard-working yet creative displays in United’s forward-line.
##3## Indeed, while Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show last term, Tevez’s link-up with the similarly styled Wayne Rooney was among the highlights of the Red Devils’ memorable campaign.
But England is yet to truly witness the type of play that catapulted the 24-year-old to fame in South America, and he is determined to restore those elements to his game.
Blend
Tevez told The Sun: “What I need to do is blend what my country wants from me with the different style my club needs from me.
“The Argentina coach is trying to convert me back into the kind of striker I was before moving to England — a dribbler, a goalscorer and someone who saved his best for the final third of the pitch.
“But playing here in England has taught me to sacrifice myself more for the team.
“It’s hard to achieve both — but I’ve got faith in myself to reinstate bits of my original game into how I perform for club and country.”
Tevez will no doubt hope to replicate the form he displayed during the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where his eight goals in six games led Argentina to gold.
No longer under 23 years of age, the versatile forward was absent as los Albicelestes successfully defended their title in Beijing this month.
But Tevez watched on eagerly as the likes of Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi helped their country to glory, and he is well aware that these prodigious youngsters will be knocking on the door of the senior squad before long.
Beautiful
He continued: “There is nothing more beautiful to me than seeing Argentina play well and win things, so I was praying for a gold medal for our boys. It will benefit me and Manchester United because I treasure playing for my country.
“And I know from what I’ve seen in the Olympics that if any of us in the national team rest on our laurels, then these brilliant youngsters will have our places. It’s an incentive to work harder and win things all the time.
“I know how strongly the youngsters will be pushing us — given that the same happened when I won the gold medal in Athens.
“Everything has changed radically for me since then and I’m signing on for three more years at United because I’m very happy in England.
“I love the atmosphere in our dressing room and I want to keep on winning.”
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