$80 a minute: Carlos Tevez becomes world’s highest-paid footballer following China transfer

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has officially become the world’s highest-paid football player after signing a whopping $41million-a-year contract at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Tevez penned a two-year deal with the Chinese Super League team, which paid an $11 million fee to his former club Boca Juniors for the transfer.

“Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC reached a transfer agreement with Argentina Club Atlético Boca Juniors.Carlos Alberto Tévez is officially joined Shanghai Shenhua,” a statement on the Shanghai Shenhua website read.

The news was confirmed by Boca Juniors on their official website, who released wishing ‘El Apache’ luck in the Far East.  

“After twists and turns...the second stage of Tevez at Boca culminates with two titles (Torneo and Copa Argentina 2015), where he scored 25 goals in 56 games played. Beyond his departure, the club and the fans will wait for his return so that he retires in the club of his loves. Good luck, Carlitos!”

The breakdown of Tevez’s enormous new earning power makes for eye-watering reading; his contract nets him a gross $808,000 a week, $115,000 a day, $4,800 an hour or $80 a minute.

The player joins the recent wave of top rate players who have headed to China from Europe. On Friday, Brazil international Oscar moved from Chelsea to Shenhua’s city rivals Shanghai SIPG for a reported £60 million ($73 million).

Tevez joins former English Premier League strikers Obafemi Martins and Demba Ba on the roster of big-spending Shenhua, which also boast former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and ex-Sunderland coach Gus Poyet as their manager.

The player known as ‘Carlitos’ is no stranger to speculative transfers; he began his career at iconic Argentine club Boca Juniors before venturing to Brazil and playing for Corinthians in a move reported to be worth $22 million.

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Then, in a surprising transfer to West Ham together with countryman Javier Mascherano, he moved to England to play for London club West Ham. There he saved the club from relegation by scoring away at Manchester United on the last day of the season.

Nevertheless, after playing a season for the in which he was voted the club’s player of the year, he eventually moved on loan to United, where he won two Premier League titles and the 2008 UEFA Champions League, his highest honor to date.

A year later and Tevez moved again play for United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City, which paid £47 million ($57.6 million) for his services. He then played for Juventus following a dispute with City before moving back to Boca Juniors in 2015.

Overall, his transfers have generated a total $102 million since 2005.