While Carlos Tevez reaches for Argentina’s first Copa America title in 14 years, the situation regarding his future just keeps getting stranger. According to the London Times, Tevez’s manager, Kia Joorabchian, was issued an arrest order a few hours before it was announced that Tevez was once again close to joining Manchester United. A federal judge in Brazil charged the Iranian businessman with money laundering and complicity in a criminal gang, in his dealings with the Brazilan club Corinthians through the sports management firm Media Sports Investment.
MSI claims to own the rights to the Brazilian giant, in addition to Argentine clients Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. The Brazilian judge who issued the arrest warrant also implicated MSI investor Boris Berezovsky, Corinthians President Alberto Dualib and several other club officials on similar charges.
Meanwhile, Tevez is expected to undergo a physical in Manchester early next week, possibly Tuesday. “I think we have got the player — we think he is our player and are very hopeful,” United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. It’s still unclear who will receive the transfer fee for the player — the Premier League had demanded that United pay West Ham, not Joorabchian, the required $70 million. Nevertheless, a statement from Joorabchian says an agreement between all parties has been reached. He did not comment on the order for his arrest.