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Carlos Tevez returns home to Boca Juniors

Carlos Tevez celebrated the end of his European travels on Friday night with a penalty shoot-out goal that sent Argentina into the semi-finals of the Copa America. The 31-year-old striker slotted home the seventh spot-kick to give his side a 5-4 win on penalties over Colombia. The quarter-final had ended 0-0.  

Carlos Tevez will go back home to Argentina to continue his career after nine years with European clubs.
Carlos Tevez will go back home to Argentina to continue his career after nine years with European clubs. Reuters/Marcos Brindicci
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Tevez had started as a substitute for the game but he came on 17 minutes from time as a replacement for Sergio Aguero.

His successful conversion sparked wild celebrations among the Argentina squad who are seeking the country's first Copa America since 1993. They will play either Brazil or Paraguay in the semi-final.

The victory completed an eventful day for Tevez. Boca Juniors announced during the match that he would rejoin them for the start of the next season.

Tevez began his career at Boca before departing in 2004 for Corinthians in Brazil. From there he left for Europe where he turned out for West Ham United, Manchester United and Manchester City in England before moving onto Juventus in Italy.

Daniel Angelici, the Boca Juniors president, said on Saturday: "It is a day of joy and great satisfaction. The return of Carlos Tevez in an extraordinary moment of his career is fantastic news for all partners and supporters of Boca and Argentine football."

While many South American stars appear to return to their roots when they are in decline, it appears the opposite with Tevez. He still seethes rumbustuous energy.

He scored 20 Serie A goals last season as his Juventus side won their fourth successive title.

Before the deal was struck with his boyhood club, Tevez had been linked with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Paris St Germain.

"The presence of Carlos will give another leap in quality to the great squad we have," added Angelici.

During his first spell at Boca, Tevez won the title in 2003 and was voted South American Player of the Year three years on the trot.

His time in England with West Ham United began controversially with a row over ownership rights.

His move to Manchester United in 2007 brought him a Uefa Champions League title in 2008 as well as two Premier League titles and a Club World Cup.

More success followed his transfer across town in 2009 to Manchester City. He won the FA Cup in 2011 and then in 2011-2012 he helped the club claim their first English championship in 44 years.

His decision to head to Juventus in June 2013 was greeted with scepticism. The pundits' analysis was simple. Serie A was a backwater; Juventus - nicknamed La Vecchia Signora, or the Old Lady, because it's one of the oldest clubs in Italy - was a scandal-tainted has-been of an institution; Tevez couldn't take the pace and discipline of the Premier League.

But two seasons in Turin have proved the naysayers wrong. The campaigns have yielded two Serie A titles; a Coppa Italia and another appearance in a Champions League final where Juve lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the final in Berlin on 6 June.

His presence may also have helped to recalibrate attitudes towards Italian football.

"Tevez seems to have that capacity to win games by the force of his will," said football writer Jonathan Wilson. "Technically he's not in the top 10 strikers in the world - he's not far behind - but it's that aggression, that determination."

Wilson, whose latest book is Angels With Dirty Faces: The Footballing History of Argentina, added: "That's why fans love him. You never have a suspicion that Tevez might not be trying. He is absolutely committed and that has a knock-on effect on the rest of the team.

"Tevez helped Juventus bridge the psychological gulf between themselves and the big teams in Europe. After their last season, Juve now believe they can compete and I think Tevez's spirit has been a part of creating that belief."

The Croatia international Mario Mandzukic will arrive from Atletico Madrid to replace Tevez at Juve. The 29-year-old will find a squad in fine fettle having notched up their fourth consecutive Serie A title.

Massimo Allegri's team won the Italian double in the 2014-15 season and reached that Champions League final. They're in good stead for a record fifth successive championship. Tevez returns home with an Old Lady's blessing.

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