It’s hard to feel sorry for Tevez

IF footballers could squeeze a loyalty card into their burgeoning wallets then Carlos Tevez, after 14 years in the game, would barely have enough points to buy a toaster in Argos; so don’t expect too many tears to be shed over his latest whimpering transfer request.

The Manchester City striker, who has three seasons remaining on a five-year-contract, wants to leave England because of the heartache of living so far away from his two young daughters, who remain with his estranged wife in Argentina.

It is understandable, of course — laudable even in this enlightened age; how refreshing to hear about a re-constituted footballer who puts family first. But before the £200,000-a-week striker is unveiled as a challenger for David Beckham’s ‘father of the year’ crown, there is history to consider.