Diego Maradona Helped Convince Carlos Tevez to Return to Manchester City

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Mar 22, 2012

Diego Maradona Helped Convince Carlos Tevez to Return to Manchester CityDiego Maradona's bond with Carlos Tevez might be tighter than many imagined.

Maradona revealed that he spoke with Tevez, and helped convince him to end his months'-long exile from Manchester City, according to Sport360.

"About three or four months back, I asked to speak with Tevez and told him not to get engaged in asking for higher wages," Maradona said. 

"I believe he played a vital role when he was at Manchester United and even at City. I think he's one of their best players. I'm happy that he has sorted this things out with the club and [City manager Roberto] Mancini so that he can now focus on his football and do well for his club and country."

Maradona, a world soccer icon, and Tevez both hail from Argentina's capital city, Buenos Aires. The pair share a love for Argentine club Boca Juniors, and the national team, which Maradona lead to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. When the man Argentines affectionately call "Dios" (God) calls, soccer players answer. Tevez is no different.

Tevez made his long-awaited return on Tuesday. With his team trailing Chelsea 1-0, Tevez entered the game in the 66th minute and helped turn things around. He set up Samir Nasri's game-winner, which breathed new life into City's Premier League title charge.

His starring cameo came nearly six months after his last appearance in a City colors. On Sept. 28, Mancini claims Tevez refused to warm up and enter a losing effort against Bayern Munich. After the game, Mancini vowed that Tevez would never play for City again. A long, drawn-out disciplinary process ended with the club fining and suspending the player for six weeks.

Tevez responded by going AWOL in Argentina from early November through mid-February. It was only after City could not sell the striker to another club (at a suitable price) that he was welcomed back into the camp. Publicly, Mancini and City's players say they have no problems with Tevez, despite his walking out on the team.

If he continues to help the club win, City might want to think about inviting Maradona to the end-of-the-season party.

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