 Tevez joined Corinthians from Boca Juniors for �9.7m in 2004 |
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has played down speculation that the club will sign Corinthians striker Carlos Tevez. Mourinho was in Brazil on Thursday watching as the Argentine played against River Plate in a match abandoned following crowd trouble.
Newspaper reports on Saturday claimed Chelsea are ready to bid anything from �20m to �60m for the 22-year-old.
"People can say what they like but there were 22 players in the match who were worth watching," said Mourinho.
"I go to the game because it is South America's equivalent of the Champions League and it is a great tournament.
"Now the Premiership's over I can go and enjoy other football without worrying."
Mourinho's presence provoked widespread media coverage in Brazil and Corinthians moved quickly to calm fears that their star player is about to leave.
"There's no point naming a price as he's not for sale," Kia Joorabchian, the president of London-based Media Sports Investments who have invested millions of dollars in Corinthians, told the Times.
"He's 22 years old, the best player in South America and one of the best players in the world. It's not possible. For me he is irreplaceable."
But Joorabchian also revealed that Tevez could be sold in four years time and also if his contract release clause is met.
"I know that after the World Cup in Germany lot of teams will want to buy Tevez, but it does not matter to us," said Joorabchian.
"Now, we have a project. In four or five years he will be sold.
"Tevez will leave Corinthians if a team pays the contract's release clause, which is between �69m and �83M.
"Maybe he won't leave Corinthians even for that money. I think that he is very happy here."
MMIX
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We have a project. In four or five years he will be sold