CARLOS TEVEZ has dubbed Alex Ferguson an ‘old man’ hell-bent on lowering his value in the transfer market.

The Argie striker is at the centre of a bitter ‘will he, won’t he stay’ wrangle.

Tevez has grown increasingly frustrated at being dropped for Manchester United’s big matches and, according to his national boss Diego Maradona, fears Fergie wants him out.

Maradona said: “I spoke with Tevez on the phone and the first thing he said to me was ‘That old man doesn’t like me.

"He’s not playing me and he is lowering my value’.

“When he comes to Argentina, I’m going to reassure him. As I see it, he’s fast, incisive, he scores goals.

"He is about to be called up for Argentina and he will be playing.”

Tevez was a sub again at Wigan on Wednesday but came on to level in a 2-1 win.

Ferguson immediately insisted he wants to keep the on-loan star, who is owned by Kia Joorabchian.

Fergie even claimed United had made Tevez an offer to stay, though this was denied by the Iranian businessman.

But Maradona’s comments, in an interview with Argentina’s Radio La Red, will not help.

Joorabchian said yesterday discussions with United over Tevez’s future have been ‘cordial’ but ‘there have been no offers as such.’

He told talkSPORT: “Carlos will make a decision on his future once the Champions League is over.”


The Sun