Tevez joins Man City, criticises Ferguson

By Chris Brereton

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Argentina striker Carlos Tevez signed for Manchester City on Tuesday and used his first news conference at the big-spending Premier League club to criticise Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

The 25-year-old, who spent two years at Old Trafford under a lease agreement, said Ferguson had not done enough to persuade him to stay at the champions.

City paid a reported 25.5 million pounds for Tevez whose "economic rights" were owned by agent Kia Joorabchian.

"Alex never called me or sent me any text messages," Tevez, who signed a five-year contract, said. "The only time he spoke to me was after the match against Roma because we had to discuss me playing for Argentina.

"I don't think that is the way to treat a player who has been two years at the club."

Ferguson said on Monday that he had personally tried to contact Tevez in January about extending his stay at United but that the striker had ignored his calls.

Tevez was the third major pre-season signing for City who are owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour after midfielder Gareth Barry and striker Roque Santa Cruz.

City manager Mark Hughes confirmed that the club had also opened talks with Arsenal about buying Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor.