Carlos Tevez claims he knew his days at Manchester United were numbered when Dimitar Berbatov joined the club.
The Argentina striker will be playing for a new team next season after turning down a five-year contract to remain at Old Trafford.
And he felt Berbatov's arrival from Tottenham last summer, which provided further competition for places up front, proved to him his future did not lie at United.
"I am not sure where I am going to play, but I know for sure that will not be at Manchester (United)," Tevez told TyC Sports television network.
"When I arrived I had to fight for a place like any other player. My first season was good. I was a starter or a substitute, but I respected that.
"But in my second year, after the match against Liverpool, the coach started to overlook me. The fans supported me a lot so I thought that something was going on as my performances were also good. I was a professional.
"I did not feel supported after they signed Berbatov, because I was the man for the job he was bought to do.
"Last year I was the second top-scorer after Cristiano (Ronaldo). We won two titles (the Barclays Premier League and the Carling Cup) and being shut out like this was something that I could not understand."
Tevez added: "They did not ask me to sign the contract. Ferguson told me not be worried about Berbatov's arrival, but I did not like it when he started to put me on the bench often. I gave my life for the Manchester United shirt."
Your Comments
natty1991
"i think if berbatov is the reason tevez wont sign on again then we should sell the lazy git, tevez is 10 times the player berbatov is."
Ruadeljo
"Berbatov for me is not worth the money paid and does not show any signs that he is playing for the shirt or the club. Tevez was the opposite, always gave 100%, but not worth the transfer fee reportedly asked for.
I don't like the comments about Ronaldo, the lad gave great service to MUFC and should be wished all the best, but why did United let the news of the transfer leak before replacements were found as all clubs will be asking inflated prices now."
jordan_r_hcafc
"i think you shoulld all be quiet tevez is needed by man u berbatov is awful"
delboy1960
"united are far from that, good ridance to that prima donna ronaldo, hope he brakes his legs, berbatov is not worthy as a starter, rooney is a gargonic ape, giggs is a welsh rat, ferdinand is a pratt, need i go on..obviously not a united supporter, but i think that little fella tevez saved thier bacon on many occassion, they will win nowt next year.."
bakerbard
"good points stedge. Once Utd get another striker, Benzema please, then Fergie can play his team in their correct positions rather than chopping them about to suit a certain Portuguese player. Tevez.. good riddance.. "
matson10
"if im honest. tevez is a great player i love him for his work rate and professionlaism. but i lost alot of respect for jhim for the fact that hes in 1 of the biggest clubs in the world, which is all about competition for spaces. so if he cant handle the fact theres 3 world class strikers battling it out for 2 striker places then hes better of elsewhere.."
simon1303
"as much as i admired tevez for his workrate at utd it was apparent that he was not the world class goal scorer that we needed and that is why his appearances were limited. he has shown that he has not got the bottle to fight for a place in a world class team. he'll go to city and get a huge wage and regular football with a team that will not be ready to challenge for major honours for at least 3 years. i'm not a big fan of berbatov and i think if he has another season like the last one then he'll be out the door, the same is true for nani, now ronaldo has gone nani has to step up to the plate and prove that he is good enough to play for utd. we need to bring in benzema and nuture the talents of macheda, welbeck and tosic"
Donald_Rinho
"theleixman - good on you for supporting the 'Reds' 'this year' - cracking first post. You can look forward to many 'Pool fans telling you that the Reds are actually Liverpool, and your team for this year, Utd, are the 'Red Devils'"
ErrrorWayz
"Tevez is hugely over-rated, he scored some important goals, but he got arrogant and tried to hold the club to ransom. Berbatov is the better player. "
stedge
"there really is some ignorant babbling here. granted Berba hasn't scored as many goals as a 35 million pound striker should, but it's pretty hard to score anything but 40 yard screamers playing where he does: in the hole. do people really think Fergie would just let Berba off with strolling around and not pushing forward unless that's what he was told to do? no, he'd get a hairdrier across the skull and made to play in the reserves for 3 weeks. Ferguson's said plenty of times he's a holdup player, look at his runs and passes completed versus Tevez. Berba is a support player, clearly there to orchestrate buildup play outside of the box instead of the Manyoo classic burst forward. I can guarantee with a stronger midfield and Berba in the box he would slot them in like it was going out of fashion, his touch and accuracy is too good not to. it's the same deal with Rooney, someone complaining about his goals this season? do you actually watch football? Rooney can't score when he's playing wing back to cover the GAPING CHASM Ronaldo leaves open when he goes forward and refuses to track back. look at Rooney playing for England, he's a constant threat because he's a great player. Tevez is a disloyal whiner. and those who bang on about him getting picked for the Argies... you clearly haven't been watching their dramatic fall from grace in the World Cup Qualifiers. Bolivia humped them 6-1, then Ecuador spanked them 2-0, your precious Tevez taking a penalty worse than Berba's in the FA Cup final."
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