Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, the Argentine striker explained how an unfulfilled commitment from Alex Ferguson drove his controversial 2009 switch to Manchester City and ignited a fiery clash with his former captain.
Carlos Tevez has revealed the private breakdown that sparked his fierce feud with Gary Neville, explaining that an unkept transfer promise by Sir Alex Ferguson drove his switch from Manchester United to Manchester City in 2009.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube show, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the Argentine forward stated that Neville completely misunderstood the boardroom friction that preceded the transfer. He acknowledged feeling intense personal anger toward his former team captain during their subsequent derby meetings.
Tevez arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2007 on an initial two-year loan agreement from West Ham United. Alongside Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, he formed one of the most formidable attacking trios in European soccer. Across those two campaigns, the dynamic forward line propelled United to back-to-back Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League trophy in Moscow.
According to Tevez, Ferguson personally guaranteed him a permanent contract before his second season began. The Scottish manager spoke with him directly during preseason preparations, assuring the striker that United intended to purchase his registration outright. Ferguson specifically referenced the club's pursuit of Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur, telling Tevez not to worry because the budget would accommodate both players.
United never executed the promised permanent purchase during that window. Tevez recalled that Ferguson had six months following their conversation to honor his word, yet no paperwork materialized. Instead, the manager reduced the forward's playing time and increasingly placed him on the bench. In his view, the tactical demotion was designed to suppress his market value and lower the eventual transfer price. That perceived disrespect altered the striker's mindset, making an Old Trafford stay impossible.
When his loan arrangement expired in July 2009, Tevez rejected a late permanent contract offer from United and agreed to a cross-town move to Manchester City. The rival club, recently acquired by the Abu Dhabi United Group, celebrated the signing by erecting a massive sky-blue billboard in central Manchester displaying Tevez alongside the slogan Welcome to Manchester.
The transfer provoked widespread outrage among United supporters and drew sharp public condemnation from Gary Neville. Neville accused the Argentine striker of showing disloyalty to the club and later alleged that the forward had downed tools during his final months under Ferguson.
That hostility boiled over during the two-legged League Cup semi-final in January 2010. Tevez scored twice during City's 2-1 first-leg victory at the Etihad Stadium. After finding the net, the forward ran toward the sideline where Neville was warming up as a substitute and directed a chattering-hand gesture toward him, signaling that the defender talked too much. Neville reacted by raising an obscene middle-finger gesture back at his former teammate.
During their podcast discussion, Ferdinand reminded Tevez of the hostility of that evening, recalling that the Argentine appeared ready to kill Neville during the match. Tevez admitted that he wanted to fight the right-back because Neville had criticized him in the media without knowing what transpired behind closed doors. He maintained that Neville blamed him for disrespecting Ferguson when the defender simply failed to understand the broken promise.
Tevez acknowledged that his performances for City were driven by an appetite for retribution against United's decision-makers. He explained that he had poured his heart into United during his two seasons there, leaving him deeply wounded when the club failed to reciprocate that loyalty.
His tenure on the blue side of Manchester brought substantial silverware. Tevez helped City capture the 2011 FA Cup and played an integral role during the final weeks of the 2011-12 campaign, securing the club's first English league title in 44 years. His celebrations during City's open-top bus parade caused further uproar when he displayed a fan-made sign reading RIP Fergie.
More than a decade removed from those clashes, Tevez noted that time has eased the initial bitterness. While the Argentine remains critical of Ferguson's handling of his contract, he reflected fondly on his time representing United. He reiterated that his anger was directed solely at the executives and the manager who failed to keep their word, not at the fans who supported him at Old Trafford.
Source:
Ex-Man Utd star 'wanted to kill Gary Neville' after Sir Alex Ferguson's broken promise October 29, 2026
Carlos Tevez admits he 'wanted to kill' Gary Neville following controversial Man Utd exit and Man City transfer October 30, 2026
Carlos Tevez: Joining Man City Was Revenge. The Truth About Leaving Man United October 29, 2026
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