Tevez: Italy is completing me

Juventus striker Carlos Tevez stated that Italy made him a more complete footballer, claiming that the country is best for being ‘the university of football’.

The 29-year-old Argentinian striker left Manchester City at the end of last season and joined the Italian champions last summer following a seven-year spell in England where he represented West Ham and Manchester United too. But has no deviations on the move to Serie A, claiming the Italian top flight is the hardest he has played in.

Carlo Tevez © forzaitalianfootball.com

‘It's still the toughest league in the world. It's the university of football. Tactically, it's at the highest level here and we suffer on the field,’ the former West Ham and Manchester United striker told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Tevez has won three Premier League medals in his name, but he considers that the Italian top flight is the most interesting and testing level he has ever played.

‘Italy is completing me. If you can score goals here, you can anywhere.

'I want to win both the Serie A and the Europa League.'

Juve are eight points clear at the top of Serie A and Tevez is determined to add another domestic title to his vast collection. The 29-year-old, who has netted 11 times this season for the Italian giants, is even eyeing a double with a Europa League win. 

‘I'm thinking about both competitions. I want them both,’ he added.

‘I won titles in Argentina, Brazil and England. Italy would be the fourth country and the Europa League is the only international competition that I'm missing at club level. I dream of writing a page in the history of this club.

Despite Juventus having opened up a healthy gap at the top over second-placed Roma, Tevez, who won league titles at Boca Juniors, Corinthians, United and then City, is taking nothing for granted.

Speaking of the standard of Serie A, Tevez singled out Napoli striker Jose Callejon for praise, as well as his current manager Antonio Conte.

Tevez also praised Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, saying: "He is the strongest Argentine footballer of all time, along with Maradona of course."

‘Unfortunately, it's not finished. We have some of the toughest away matches: Napoli, Roma, Lazio, AC Milan and Udinese, for example,’ he said.

Remembering the striker Jose Callejon, he said "I was impressed by the growth of (Jose) Callejon."  He continued, "Antonio Conte is important - unique - I have never seen a coach like him. He's a bit 'loco' too. He is the true strength of Juve, he doesn't release for a moment, even when you come in the locker room he asks you to push a thousand miles an hour."

The Argentinian started his career at Argentine side Boca Juniors and Tevez accepts that he would like to go back there at some sort of point in his career.

"They are my life, the team I've always loved," he said. "I surely will (return), but for the moment, my mind is here at Juve. I feel really good in Turin."

Another United old boy who is flourishing since swapping the Premier League for Serie A is Paul Pogba.

The fledgling midfielder has been outstanding in the Juve engine room this season and is almost certain to be a key part of France's World Cup squad in Brazil next summer.

Both demanded players will be turning their attentions to Saturday's crunch clash with Sampdoria as Juve bid to increase their chokehold on the Italian top flight further more.

                                                                                                                  - dailymail.co.uk, skysports.com