Antonio Conte has admitted he is an admirer of Carlos Tevez but accepts that the striker is happy at home in Argentina.

The former Manchester United and Manchester City striker revealed this week that new Chelsea boss Conte made an approach for his services.

Tevez was considering hanging up his boots after Boca Juniors were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores.

He had offers to return to West Ham and Corinthians but it was another old flame who made the most headlines for making an approach.

Conte , who managed Tevez during his time at Juventus, is in the market for another frontman and saw an opportunity to secure his services.

He said: “Carlos was my player when I was coach at Juventus. I lived with him a fantastic season I like Carlos as a player and a man.

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“I know now that he is a player of Boca and he did a lot to go back to Argentina last season. I wish the best for him and his family.”

Tevez has decided to remain at Boca after spurning Chelsea’s advances to play out his remaining years in the game at the iconic La Bombonera stadium.

Tevez explained: "After the loss [to Independiente] we had two days off.

"I was shaken, like everyone at home. I returned to training and I said 'That's it, it's passed'.

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"I was without any motivation. At that moment I thought about a lot of things, even to leave football. It was leave football or continue at Boca.

"One day later Conte called me to go to Chelsea, and I told him no. I wasn't in a good way, and I had to think about a lot of things. It was Boca or retire.

"You realise a lot of things, like family. Since I've come to Boca I live for the club. When you can't reach your objective you rethink a lot of things.

"I had to sit back and look at the big picture, and look ahead and see if I had the will to keep playing or not."

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