Carlos Tevez: remember him? He was the terrier-like striker who would harass defenders and create havoc for anyone charged with the dreaded prospect of marking him. He would bang in the goals and bust a gut for his grateful teammates.
The AWOL Argentinian is still contracted to Manchester City, believe it or not, despite his best attempts to generate a transfer elsewhere. Advised by Kia Joorabchian, the epitome of all that is wrong with football agents, Tevez is stuck in a mess that leaves his reputation in the dirt.
Since refusing to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the relationship between the player and Roberto Mancini has spiraled downhill. Not that it has hindered the club's title aspirations, as they sit pretty with United at the top.
With the breakdown of a potential move to AC Milan, Tevez now faces the prospect of staying in limbo until at least the end of the season. He is ending his strike and returning to Manchester, where he now faces the awkward prospect of working with people who will have no desire to see him.
The problem with the player now is that he carries too much baggage: a scheming agent, an enormous salary, a substantial transfer fee to prise him away (City have him under contract for the next two and a half years), and a mercenary attitude.
For all the stick thrown City's way for paying ostentatious wages, they must be applauded for rapping the spoiled Tevez hard across the knuckles.
