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COME IN NO.32...

United player: Carlos Tevez

Friday August 10,2007

By Geoff Marsh for express.co.uk

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CARLOS Tevez will wear the no.32 shirt for Manchester United this season after finally completing his dream move to Old Trafford tonight.

It is the same number he wore last season at West Ham where he quickly became a cult hero.

United confirmed Tevez has joined the Old Trafford club on a two-year loan, ending a protracted period of negotiation which has lasted almost throughout the summer.

The 23-year-old’s registration with West Ham was cancelled by the Premier League earlier this week but every item of paperwork within the new deal has been scrutinised in an effort to avoid the kind of wrangle which erupted over the ’third-party’ ownership of Kia Joorabcian during Tevez’s time at West Ham.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson had expected the deal to have been completed long before now, the United boss felt it was “understandable” it should have taken so long.

Tevez has been training with United all week anyway but Ferguson now faces a tricky decision over whether to include the Argentina forward in his squad to face Reading on Sunday, when the Red Devils begin the defence of their title.

Tevez will get a stupendous reception from our fans when he returns to Upton Park

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley

Although the idea must be tempting - and it would be no surprise if Tevez found himself on the bench against Steve Coppell’s men - Ferguson indicated earlier today, before the signing had been completed, next Sunday’s derby encounter with Manchester City was a more realistic target.

“Carlos has surprised us,” he admitted. “We thought he would need more training but he looks in great shape.

“I am happy with what the Premier League are doing because eventually we will get a player in the right circumstances, with everything clarified and cleared by the appropriate authorities.

“But even if it was all done today, I wouldn’t use him on Sunday. It would more likely be against Manchester City next weekend.

“It is a difficult situation to assess because a derby game can be frenetic. Once we know he can play, we can make a decision quite easily.”

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has promised Tevez a "stupendous" reception from the West Ham fans when he returns to Upton Park with the Champions later this season.