The Argentine striker has been in sparkling form this season, powering the Bianconeri forward and writing a new page in the club’s history of great No.10s.
Following his Champions League heroics against Borussia Dortmund, when Carlos Tevez joined the illustrious company of Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio by scoring at the Westfalenstadion after just 136 seconds, the Argentine has caught up to another of his predecessor’s record.
It took 25 minutes for Tevez to break the deadlock against Genoa. The striker sprinted down the right and smashed his shot at Mattia Perin’s near-post, as the ball flew off the crossbar and in.
This is the kind of form Tevez has been in lately, often the protagonist for Juventus and the man to open the scoring.
The Argentina striker has scored his 24th goal of in all competitions in Juventus’ 1–0 win over Genoa. It means Tevez has already scored more goals so far than he did in all of last season (20) and that with 10 games to go in Serie A, Juventus still contesting a Coppa Italia semi-final and the Champions League quarter-finals still to come.
The man they call El Apache doesn’t just do in picking open tight locks however; he very much smashes them open instead. The hunger and industry with which he plays have been in phase with the promise he made upon receiving the hallowed No.10 shirt in 2013.
“It’s an important responsibility because it is a number that has been worn by champions. The biggest challenge for me is to bring forward and do a great job with Juventus,” Tevez said.
“He is a person and a player that I greatly respect. For me it is an honor to wear his shirt,” Tevez said of the former owner Alessandro Del Piero.
Indeed, being from Argentina where the cultura de diez (the culture of the No.10) is so ingrained in football, Tevez will have been well aware of the shirt he was inheriting.
More crucially than his 24 goals so far being his best in Turin however, Tevez matched on Sunday Del Piero’s 24 goals for Juventus in 2007-08, which had been the highest tally since David Trezeguet’s 29 in 2005-06.
Trezeguet himself backed “the beautiful animal” Tevez as deserving the No.10 shirt, as well as teammate Lenoardo Bonucci voiced his confidence that the Argentine would honour it.
Tevez’s goal against Genoa was just another outstanding goal to match his even more impressive mid-week strike against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
But Tevez’s impact on Juventus is not limited to just his wonderful strikes. His attitude and work rate are by far the more impressive parts of Tevez’s game. Arturo Vidal received a blow and went down against Genoa, but the referee signaled to play on; with his teammate out of position, Tevez sprinted back 40 yards to fill in the gap in central midfield and won the ball back.
Tevez is a synthesis of the genius soloist and the perfect teammate. He is relentless in his effort and irresistible in front of goal. For all his goals however, it might just be his attitude that endears Tevez so much to fans.
Indeed it is often what has been most remembered from all the clubs he has left.
Juventus fans will always remember Michel Platini’s guile, Liam Brady’s left foot, Baggio’s ponytail, and Del Piero’s artistry; but when his contract comes to an end in 2016, the Bianconeri faithful are sure to never forget Tevez’s grinta (fighting spirit).
