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When Juventus signed Carlos Tevez, it was pretty much a certainty that it was his last European stop before he headed home to the club he grew up at, Boca Juniors. He signed a three-year deal, then he would head back home in the summer of 2016 and that would be that.
As it turns out, the homecoming is happening 12 months earlier than initially thought.
Boca Juniors have announced on Friday night the deal we've been expecting for weeks now. Tevez, who Juventus signed two summers ago from Manchester City, is going back to the club he started at. No word on a transfer fee — if there will be any — just yet,after Boca President Daniel Angelici said Tevez's return wouldn't cost the club a single euro.
#TevezVuelveACasa Ya es una realidad. Es oficial: Carlos Tevez (@carlitos3210) vuelve a #Boca. pic.twitter.com/5XHC79yBbF
— Boca Jrs. Oficial (@BocaJrsOficial) June 27, 2015
Tevez, who had one year remaining on his contract, had an amazing two years with Juventus. He 50 goals in his two seasons, ranking atop the Serie A scoring charts in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns. He was, without question, one of Juventus' best players over that time span, with his goals and grinta leading Juventus to another two Serie A titles and the Champions League final.
(At least he doesn't have to hear about his European scoreless drought anymore. So he's got that going for him, which is nice, I guess.)
But the lingering uncertainty surrounding his future was present both this summer and last. Like I said, he was always going back to Boca, but we just didn't think it would be this soon. Even as rumors of Atletico Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain getting into the mix to try and bring the 31-year-old Tevez to Spanish and France, respectively, it was always going to be Boca Juniors Tevez was going to play for next season if it wasn't Juventus.
And now, here we are. Tevez is heading home and Juventus is preparing for life with a front line of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Álvaro Morata. (Yeah, I think it's safe to say Juve are going to be okay without Tevez, even as hard as it will be to fill all the holes Carlitos' departure will leave.)
We'll always have the good times, Carlos. Thank you for giving your all and enjoy all the beautiful beaches in Argentina.