Carlos Tevez has revealed he did not celebrate Argentina's World Cup victory and has not contacted Lionel Messi since the success.
The former Manchester United and Manchester City striker only announced his retirement from playing in June last year before immediately going into management – appointed as first-team coach of Argentine giants Rosario Central, whom he has now left. Tevez last played for Boca Juniors, where he struck 22 times in 66 league games but left his boyhood club in June 2021.
That brought an end to a spectacular playing career which spanned over two decades and included over 300 club goals, encompassing spells in Argentina, Brazil, England, Italy and China. Tevez also netted 13 goals in 76 international caps for Argentina.
However, Tevez has now appeared to suggest he was not emotionally involved in Argentina's World Cup triumph and hinted that he preferred France to beat his nation in the showpiece. He added that he had not yet reached out to Messi to congratulate him, despite having his contact details.
"I didn't follow the World Cup in Qatar very closely but I saw France a lot, because it was a team that I liked," Tevez – who last played for Argentina in 2015 – explained on Radio Mitre.
"I have not written to Messi because his phone must have been blown up. It makes me very happy that my children celebrated his goals."
Tevez added about being outside of the world of football for the first time: "I don't miss the world of Boca Juniors, nor that of football, because it exhausted me."
He added: "As soon as I left Rosario Central, I received a call from Independiente, but I don't have the need to go out and manage anything.
"Being a coach was a good experience, I loved it. The strategy part was what I liked the most. Now I'm enjoying the moments of life. I am with the family in the ranch that I have. I like to enjoy the affection of the people."
In a playing career spanning two decades, Tevez won league titles in several different countries. He was a champion in Argentina and Brazil before moving to England, where he won the Premier League with Manchester United and Manchester City, adding a Champions League title with the former.
He also won back-to-back titles with Juventus before returning to Argentina to add further trophies with boyhood club Boca Juniors. He announced his retirement from playing after his adopted father and "number one fan" Segundo Raimundo died from Covid.
After just five months in charge of Rosario Central – his first and so far only managerial role – he resigned at the end of the 2022 Argentine Primera Division season, citing the club's upcoming directorial elections. He oversaw six victories and 11 draws in a 24-match spell in the dugout.