Boca Juniors striker Carlos Tevez says that Atletico Madrid tried to sign him when he left Italian outfit Juventus in the summer.

After more than five years in European football playing for the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus, the Argentine striker returned to his home country by joining the club where he started his career. Tevez began his professional career in 2001 with Boca Juniors and he says that it was very tough to turn down the Argentine club when they came calling for his services. Instead of burdening his former club with a lot of transfer fee, Tevez decided to join Boca as a free transfer after leaving Juventus at the end of his contract.

Since he was a free transfer, Tevez was an attractive option for several clubs especially in Europe. The 32-year-old has now revealed that Atletico Madrid were one of the clubs interested in signing him. He has revealed conversations with Diego Simeone, who was very keen on adding him along with the existing strikeforce of Jackson Martinez and Fernando Torres. The workrate shown by Tevez throughout his career is an attribute that appeals to Simeone. Tevez claims that he would have moved to the Spanish club had it not been for the entrance of Boca Juniors into the picture.

“[Simeone] called me and I was excited about the idea.Playing in Spain is something that is pending in my career, but I could not say no to Boca.Last year the only offer I had in Spain was from Atletico, but before that [Real] Madrid expressed interest in me.My daughter Flor is 11 years old and it got harder and harder to say goodbye to grandparents, uncles, cousins.When her grandmother came to Italy and had to go, it was very hard for my daughter,” said Tevez.