Former Manchester United and Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez has revealed the extent of his bitter feud with Gary Neville following his explosive 2009 cross-town switch. The Argentine striker admitted he was left furious by public criticism from his former captain after trading Old Trafford for the blue half of Manchester.
Tevez sent shockwaves through English football when he made the controversial move across the city. At the time, Manchester City was newly energized by Abu Dhabi investment and aggressively challenging the established Premier League hierarchy.
The forward had enjoyed considerable success with the Red Devils, claiming two league titles and a Champions League winner’s medal during his two-year loan spell. However, an acrimonious contract dispute paved the way for his departure.
Boardroom Realities and Broken Promises
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, the true depth of the friction between the former team-mates was laid bare when Ferdinand reminded Tevez that he had wanted to “kill Gary Neville” during subsequent derby matches.
Tevez smirked in agreement, explaining that his deep anger stemmed from Neville’s lack of insight into what was happening behind closed doors at Old Trafford. According to the Argentine, Neville publicly accused him of disrespecting Sir Alex Ferguson without understanding the reality of the situation.
Tevez pointed the finger squarely at the legendary manager for the breakdown in relations, claiming Ferguson failed to honour a verbal agreement to sign him permanently within a six-month window, opting instead to leave him on the bench.
Unwritten Rules of Loyalty
Neville never hid his disdain for the transfer, arguing that switching to a direct rival violated the unwritten code of conduct expected at Manchester United. The former England defender maintained that players who wed themselves to the club cannot simply join a neighborly competitor if the club still wants them.
The friction between the two camps also included public spats involving Tevez’s representatives at the time, as Neville accused the striker of downing tools during the final weeks of his United tenure.
Despite the intense hostility, Tevez immediately made his mark at his new club, scoring three goals across a two-legged League Cup semi-final against his former employers during his debut campaign.
Even after navigating a turbulent relationship with manager Roberto Mancini that involved a lengthy mid-season absence, Tevez eventually returned to play a vital role in firing City to their historic 2012 Premier League title triumph.
