It’s a great sentiment Argentinean striker Carlos Tevez is trying to express but will Manchester United fans agree? Out of contract Tevez is being seriously eyed up by great rivals Manchester City and, by all accounts, he is about to make the move.

But Tevez has asked supporters not to turn against him when and if he hops across the city because he believes none of it is his fault. He’s quite right and it would be great if Manchester United fans agreed. Sadly, football isn’t so forgiving and Tevez can still expect plenty of aggravation as Manchester City square up to be a considerable force in the Premier League.

That’s not to say we can’t have sympathy in private for the plight in which Tevez has found himself. By all accounts, Sir Alex Ferguson told Tevez that he could not join Liverpool. Tevez can actually do what he wants, given he is out of contract with Manchester United and a totally free agent. But Tevez says he has greater respect for the Red Devils than to join their great rivals and would not do this to the fans.

The way things are going, Manchester City will soon replace Liverpool at the top of Manchester United’s hate list. The club is really going places now it has the cash backing and is slowly building a team to reckon with. At least manager Mark Hughes is thoroughly delighted with the progress being made.

He has his sights very firmly set on Tevez and on Samuel Eto’o and it’s likely we can expect an announcement on at least one of them in the next few days. Many Manchester United fans would have wanted Tevez to stay with them after he was offered a very late last-minute deal to remain at Old Trafford. By this time, however, it was too late. Tevez felt, and still feels, that he has been pushed out and has no choice but to leave.

He told a national Sunday newspaper; “If I have to play for Manchester City, I don’t think the United fans will feel I am a traitor. They have to remember that at least, as far as I know, I have been thrown out of the club and I have to study the best offers available. I gave everything to Manchester United. I don’t deserve the way things have ended up.”

Sadly, Mr Tevez, that’s life at Manchester United as many players before you have found out to their detriment. Fall out with Sir Alex Ferguson, and you will be shown the door, no matter how good you are on the pitch. Tevez felt aggrieved at his treatment and spoke to the press about it. Old Trafford stay over, even though there was a last-minute olive branch with the 25.5 million deal offer.

In this tough economic climate, there’s not much you can buy for 80 million pounds is there? Perhaps a tiny island in Dubai? A nice luxury private plane? Or what about a gorgeous cruiser moored in Monte Carlo? Of course, if none of them take your fancy, why not opt for a footballer instead? Cristiano Ronaldo is a snip of the price – or is he? Just 24 hours after the revelation of Real Madrid’s record-breaking deal for the Portuguese winger, the papers, both home and aboard, are full of it. Deal of the Century. Numero Uno. The Golden Boot.

Ronaldo is back where he belongs. Not in Spain but in the international spotlight. Let’s face it, Ronaldo craves the stage and you just knew the writing was on the wall when he walked off the pitch at the end of Manchester United’s defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League final. Deflated, petulant, sulky. Would he have stayed at Old Trafford had the Red Devils lifted the ultimate crown? Probably not. The victory would have undoubtedly massaged his ego for a few weeks but big hitters always need more.

Is it ambition or ego which drives Ronaldo forward? That’s just one of the questions opened up by Real Madrid’s 80 million pound bid which puts even their Kaka deal into the shade.

Whilst Ronaldo drank champagne in an LA nightclub with Paris Hilton, the rest of the soccer world was buzzing with the news of his incredible transfer. Is he really worth the money? Should there be a cap on transfer fees? Are the sums of money involved getting out of control? Should there be more prudency during the recession? Can you really buy a team? Oh, and let’s not forget about matters on the pitch either. Is Ronaldo going to fit in with Real Madrid? Can he adapt to their style of play? Is he going to deliver? And will he finally win the silverware he longs for?

Manchester United fans are either jubilant to see the back of Ronaldo who did not exactly endear himself to every supporter, courtesy of his often Prima Dona-like behaviour, or devastated because of his undoubted talent. He is, after all, World Player of the Year and is still only 24. He scored some cracking goals for United and has been described as even better than George Best. But he also committed some howlers, with several diving incidents and continued complaints of not being protected by referees.

Many feel his departure will leave a gap too big to be filled and could hand Liverpool the title. Others believe it opens up new opportunities for United who will come back even better than before.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a shrewd man. He knows that one man can’t build a team and there is absolutely no sentiment in business. Last December, he vowed he wouldn’t even sell a virus to “that mob” at Real Madrid but money talks and Ronaldo had made it more than clear that he wanted to leave.

Individuals can put you in the spotlight, yes, but sometimes for all the wrong reasons which slowly begin to outweigh the benefits. Ronaldo was not irreplaceable or the best Manchester United player if you choose to take into account all-round consistent performance as opposed to brilliance. Yes, there were occasions when his flash of genius won the day but success has to be built on team-work, solid foundations and loyalty. Stars add the icing on the cake but Manchester United still have Rooney as the king pin.
For the time being, at least, Ronaldo will be happier and in his element at Real Madrid as new president Florentino Perez aims for a return to the Galactico era of the greats.

Kaka and Ronaldo already head his list of conquests and there will be more to come, though one suspects that 80 million deal will stay a world record for quite some time.

As to putting a limit on transfer fees, it’s probably not necessary. There are few other clubs who could afford such outrageous bids as the recession bites and they might just have to rely on home-grown talent for a change.

Stevie G’s undying passion

Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard must be one of the most refreshingly honest players in football. Who else would collect a top award but then confess to the prestigious audience that he would rather have been in a dressing room in Wembley preparing for the FA Cup final? But then that’s Stevie G in a nutshell and sums up his continued lust for the game and success.

Gerrard was picking up the Football Writers’ Player of the Year Award in London. Accompanied by his family, he said it was a huge honour and a spectacular night but he would still have exchanged it all for a place in the FA Cup final. Gerrard said he was still hungry for success and believed both he and Liverpool were on the verge of an even better campaign next season.

Having just turned 29, he believes he is still getting better and says he is learning every day in training. There was, he said, still a lot for him to achieve with England and Liverpool and he is planning to pick up trophies galore next year. Gerrard also showed what a modest man he is by thanking everyone who had helped him, not least manager Rafael Benitez for his faith in him and all his team-mates.

Gerrard has certainly had a fantastic season, despite injuries, and can still show his passion and hunger when England meet both Kazakhstan and Andorra in the World Cup qualifiers. Tongue in cheek, England manager Fabio Capello – who presented Gerrard with his award – asked him to score a few more goals for him and his country when the clashes take place!

Stevie scored 24 goals during the season, 16 of them in the Premier League, and is well capable of putting more away to help Liverpool go one better than their second to Manchester United. In fact, scoring just a few more could well be key to Liverpool toppling Manchester United off their perch.

There is certainly a strong feeling in football that Liverpool are coming into their own and they will give the Red Devils a good run for their money. Steven Gerrard is without doubt Liverpool’s best ever midfield player and the team’s talisman. When he is on the pitch, anything can happen and usually does. As captain, he is an inspiration and leads by example, inspiring memorable comebacks.

It’s hard to believe he is already 29 but he will play until he drops and probably has a good ten years in him yet. Gerrard vowed during the presentation night to try and earn the Footballer Writers’ Player of the Year award again next year – unless he happens to be in the Wembley dressing room of course!

Alcohol is not going to be top of the agenda when Manchester United meet Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.

How refreshing. Perhaps football will take centre-stage rather than how many pints fans can get down their neck before kick-off.

Most people like a drink or two as part of their entertainment but alcohol has played too great a part in crowd trouble over the years and it would be a shame to spoil a potentially fantastic match.

Full marks therefore to the Mayor of Rome who has slapped a ban on the sale of alcohol from 11am on May 26 to 6am on May 28.

No doubt there will be some bottles getting through but Manchester United fans won’t want to tangle with the Spanish police whose numbers have been substantially swelled for the occasion.

More than 67,000 fans are expected in Rome to watch a match being billed as the decider between the best two teams in the world. Barcelona have already done the double this season and Manchester United are riding high after clinching their 11th Premiership title.



Fans are convinced the Red Devils can retain the Champions League cup won in Moscow last year. They believe the team is better than last year and are relying on either Rooney or Ronaldo to slot home a goal or two.

There’s certainly been cheering news on the fitness front. After facing what he described as the toughest fitness battle of his career, it looks as though Rio Ferdinand has recovered from a calf injury. It has ruled him out for the last three weeks, including the final match against Hull, but he has been out training with the squad and Sir Alex Ferguson is confident he will play.

Likewise, Wes Brown and Rafael, both of whom picked up an injury during the end of season match, have recovered and will be available for selection. For Barcelona, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta also appear to have conquered their fitness problems.

On paper, it should be a great match. Whatever the line-up, there will be 22 fantastic players on the pitch, both advocating attacking play. Will Barcelona’s defence prove the weak point? It remains to be seen but extra time and a penalty decider might well be the only way to split the sides.

The atmosphere in the stadium promises to be electric so Swiss referee Massimo Busacca will need to make his mark early on. He was the man in charge when Barcelona met Manchester United at the Nou Camp in the semi-final last season and also officiated at the 2007 UEFA Cup final.

Hopefully, there will be as much order on the pitch as off it and whatever the result, fans on both sides will remember a great day and a great battle for all the right reasons.