Adios Carlos!

Samuel: no deal, Tevez

One of the problems they've got with Tevez though is you spend £25million and you get someone you've already got. You don't get that added boost that normally comes with spending that amount of money.

Martin Samuel
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Martin Samuel believes Manchester United will NOT sign Carlos Tevez.

The Argentina international's future was the talk of Old Trafford despite Sir Alex Ferguson's men wrapping up their 11th Premier League title with a draw against Arsenal.

Tevez, who is coming to the end of his two-year loan deal, was given a standing ovation when he was taken off to a chorus of 'sign him up' and fans even staged a demonstration demanding he is given a permanent deal.

But Samuel believes that even that overwhelming support will make him a Manchester United player next season.

"In the end Alex Ferguson did an interview with the Sunday Times in which he talks up a young English player as a potential member of the World Cup squad in a year's time, but has barely played for Manchester United," he told the Sunday Supplement.

"He talks up Macheda, who is not English of course, but again he is a young player. So he has got these guys coming through that he wants to give a chance to in the tradition of Manchester United under Ferguson. You do get a chance if you're good enough.

"The other aspect of you can see from Manchester United's point of view is if you spend £25million on a player usually you get a filip fron that.

"Psychologically with the team and the players around, you think that a £25million player has just walked through the door so you'd better raise your game if you're going to stay in the side. You also get the factor of 'look who we've signed'.

"One of the problems they've got with Tevez though is you spend £25million and you get someone you've already got. You don't get that added boost that normally comes with spending that amount of money."

Ferguson has said that a compromise needs to be reached between the club and Tevez's 'owners', Media Sports Investments if he is to sign permanently.

But Samuel fears that MSI's asking price might be too high and that could well be the decisive factor.

"What they clearly thought when they signed the initial contract was we'll have him for two years and when it comes to it time we'll negotiate at the time and by then the kid will have fallen in love with Manchester United and winning trophies and we'll be able to sort something out," he said.