5 Reasons Why Carlos Tevez Is Absolutely Vital to Juventus

With a fourth consecutive Scudetto now in the bag, Juventus can focus their attention on the upcoming Champions League clashes with Real Madrid and start thinking about strengthening their squad in the summer.

The Bianconeri's 31-year-old striker Carlos Tevez has been repeatedly linked with a move back to Boca Juniors in his native Argentina, but letting go of their biggest goal threat would be bad business for the Turin giants regardless of whom might replace him.

Tevez's agent recently came out to dispel the rumours, reported here in English by Goal, telling Argentina's Radio La Red: 

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Enough! Now you're playing with the feelings of Boca and Juve. The only certainty is that Tevez wants to respect his contract with Juventus.

We must avoid putting further pressure on Tevez at a decisive moment of the season, both for him and for Juve. As everyone knows by now, Tevez will finish his career at Boca. There's no doubt about that.

He's building a house in Argentina, he wants to invest in his country and he wants to be close to his friends and family.

But he will return later and we still need to see when, because there is a contract with Juve to respect, a contract that at the moment expires in 2016.

"

This should be music to the ears of Juventus' directors, because right now, Tevez is the last player they want to consider letting go of.

Letting Go of a Capocannoniere Makes No Sense

Like any top team, Juventus want to improve each season. So it would be illogical to let their most reliable goalscorer leave—unless they were certain about his replacement.

Tevez has 49 goals in 91 games for the Bianconeri, and he'll add more before the end of the season. That figure is impressive in itself, but his goals are only one element of the Argentinian's game. His commitment inspires those around him to raise their games, and his selfless work ethic creates plenty of scoring opportunities for his team-mates.

Right now, there are few players available anywhere who can guarantee the kind of return that his tenacious, energetic style promises—and fewer still that a financially conservative club such as Juve could afford. There are other areas of the pitch that the Old Lady might consider strengthening, but up front, there's no point in them messing with a formula that works.

He's Still Part of the Plan

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Speaking to Radio Rai recently, relayed in English by Football Italia, Juventus director Beppe Marotta rebuffed talk about the sale of Paul Pogba and Tevez's early departure:

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Pogba is a superb champion, the best young player around and he has the attention of the top clubs. But we're not used to selling.

Right now there are no grounds to put Pogba on sale. We have an economic balance and our power is not comparable to that of other clubs, but Pogba has shown no intention of departing.

[Tevez] has a contract until 2016 and he's nostalgic of his home country. But the Argentine did extremely well with us, and offered a great contribution by means of his great performances.

He had no problems integrating himself into the team, he's a leader. At this moment we have no reason to close his contract in advance.

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Marotta continued, stressing that Juve are keen to strike a balance between young talent and experienced winners—such as Tevez. 

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We always want to win and it's right to mix young players with experienced ones. We want to make use of our younger players, like [Kingsley] Coman and [Alvaro] Morata, and we'll continue down this road.

We're looking round to find enticing elements for the future and Dybala is interesting, I've already met [Palermo President Maurizio] Zamparini.

At the moment there may be some differences in terms of economics. The Rosanero President has his own ideas about the value of the player but we'll continue along our way.

"

With the kind of interest being shown in him, completing a high-profile signing such as Paulo Dybala will require the Bianconeri to be fully focussed. It wouldn't make any sense to let Tevez leave early because he'd have to be replaced even if they signed Dybala. And replacing Serie A's Capocannoniere would be no easy task.

Winners Are Hard to Come by

Most football fans will tell you that stats only tell half the story. Tevez's numbers are impressive, but it's his personality that makes him so valuable. 

The 31-year-old is as dogged as they come. And he's a winner. Not only has he been central to Juve's last two titles, but Tevez has also won league titles in Argentina with Boca Juniors, in Brazil with Corinthians and in England with both Manchester clubs. And perhaps just as impressively, his goals saved West Ham United from relegation in his only season with the Hammers back in 2006-07. 

Finding someone who can score 20 goals a season under perfect circumstances is one thing. Finding another striker who will still find the back of the net when you're under enormous pressure is quite another.

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

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Prior to arriving in Turin, Tevez had a reputation for being difficult. Transfer scandals and bust-ups with managers meant that the striker was as renowned for his business off the pitch as he was for his excellent performances on it. 

In Italy, that's all been put to rest. Tevez settled in at Juventus immediately and now looks the paradigm of a relaxed, content footballer. He immediately earned the trust of both Antonio Conte and Max Allegri, while also becoming a leader in the dressing room. 

It's not clear what's made Juve different to his former clubs in England, but there's an obvious harmony there. There's no telling how the player will do elsewhere, or what kind of relationship the club might build with his replacement. Messing with what they've got now would be foolhardy—for everyone concerned. 

Tevez Gives Juventus a 'Fear Factor'

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Tevez is the kind of player who troubles other sides. He's prolific in front of goal, but at the same time, he's unpredictable. 

Speaking to Goal, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone identified his compatriot as Juve's most dangerous player: 

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As a coach, it is difficult to find a way of stopping him or restricting his influence because he plays far away from the area, he times his runs really well, he brings the ball forward, he is good one-on-one and he links up well with his team-mates. He has had some extraordinary seasons at Juventus and in football terms, he is a real man.

Right now, he is one of the most competitive forwards in Europe. His function within the team is not that of an out-and-out striker, but his numbers are up there with the best. So he is a very valuable player to have in the team because he gives you an extra man in midfield in order to combine in attack and also arrives with his runs into the area. That makes him very important. 

He is a very intelligent player who has had a very special career. Only he will know when is the right time to leave Europe and return to Argentina. 

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Opponents know he'll score given half a chance—they just don't know how.