The Evolution of Carlos Tevez from Boca Juniors to Juventus

From a 17-year-old wunderkind from the Buenos Aires ghetto making his professional debut with Boca Juniors to a well-travelled veteran about to embark on his latest adventure in the elegant black and white stripes of Juventus, Carlos Tevez has certainly taken the road less traveled when it comes to his football career.

With surprise transfers, astonishing bust-ups, controversial proclamations and plenty of amazing goals, the Argentine player has always generated headlines, wherever he has gone.

He has also won bagfuls of silverware, and the Italian champions will be hoping his winning spirit and rare talents will light up Serie A and the Champions League this season.

Here we trace his path from teenage sensation to polemical superstar with a look at Tevez's stints at each of his five previous professional clubs.

Boca Juniors

The brawny, grizzled teenager from Fortress Apache, one of Buenos Aires' most destitute neighborhoods, soon became a fan favorite at Boca Juniors.

His raw talent and fervent, battling playing style won over the "Xeneize" faithful, as did his knack for scoring in the biggest games.

Carlitos forever wrote himself into Boca folklore when he scored a late goal against Boca's arch rivals, River Plate, in a Copa Libertadores semi-final, then proceeded to mock River fans by dancing the chicken dance in front of them.

Corinthians

Though he only remained at Brazilian club Corinthians for a relatively short time, Tevez had quite an impact.

He scored 34 goals in 58 matches in just over a year and a half at the club, helping them to their fourth Brasileirao championship.

Tevez was named the player of the tournament, and won the "Rey de America" award, for the best player on the South American continent, for the third time in succession. 

Though initially idolized by Corinthians fans, the "Apache" eventually fell out with the hardcore element of the support base, and his concerns about his safety, and the safety of his family, led him to seek a move elsewhere.

West Ham United

A transfer to Europe was always on the cards for South America's most exciting young talent, but it was Tevez's choice of club which shocked just about everybody.

Along with his chum, Javier Mascherano, Tevez moved to Premier League strugglers West Ham United.

After a difficult start, where he was unable to find the back of the net and suffered a strained relationship with manager Alan Pardew, Carlitos hit his straps under replacement coach Alan Curbishley and ultimately played a huge part in saving the club from relegation.

Manchester United

In the 2007/08 season Tevez moved to English champions Manchester United, with whom he would win his first European trophy, the Premier League crown, that season. 

He also played an important part in United's successful Champions League campaign, making him the first Argentine player to win the Copa Libertadores, Intercontinental Cup and Champions league trophies.

His second season also bore silverware, but saw him drop down the pecking order of strikers at the club, and the relationship between Tevez and coach Sir Alex Ferguson became strained.

In a career dotted with controversy, the Apache's next transfer would cause the most tumult.

Manchester City

To the chagrin of Manchester United fans, Carlitos' next move was to their local rivals, the newly-wealthy Manchester City.

Despite the turmoil that so often surrounded Tevez at City, it would become the club at which he made the most appearances, and hit some of the best form, of his career.

From season 2009/10, he spent four years at the Etihad, scoring 74 goals and completing 22 assists in 126 games.

Tevez topped the Premier League goalscorers charts alongside Dimitar Berbatov in 2010/11 and was given the captain's armband by coach Roberto Mancini, before his relationship with the former Italian international deteriorated.

The nadir of his time at City came after a heated sideline argument with Mancini, following which Tevez retreated to Argentina for an extended leave of absence.

He would eventually be welcomed back and would win the English league title, his third, with the club. 

Juventus

On 26 June, 2013, the Apache signed a three-year contract with Italian giants Juventus.

His tenacious, skillful style of football has won him admirers wherever he has played, but on numerous occasions he has managed to anger a great many people as well.

If he can settle in Turin, help maintain Juve's grip on the Italian league title, and push them a couple of steps up the ladder in European football, no doubt fans of the Old Lady will soon be singing his name from the terraces of the spectacular Juventus Stadium.