Carlos Tevez reveals he 'always thought about returning home' as he is paraded in front of 40,000 Boca fans and Diego Maradona

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Carlos Tevez departed Boca Juniors for Corinthians in 2004, but has now secured a return to his boyhood team
Tevez was in England for seven-and-a-half years, playing for West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City
The striker joined Juventus in 2013 and has now secured a return to his homeland in a deal worth £4.6million
Diego Maradona was in the stands to welcome Tevez back to Boca's Bombonera stadium

Published: 18:41 EST, 13 July 2015 | Updated: 06:18 EST, 15 July 2015

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Carlos Tevez hailed his long-awaited return to Boca Juniors as the best day of his life as he was greeted by more than 40,000 supporters, including Diego Maradona, in a jubilant homecoming at the club's Bombonera stadium.

Wearing the No 10 shirt he left behind when he departed Boca for Corinthians at the end of 2004, embarking on a worldwide adventure that would take him to West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus, Tevez was worshipped by the Boca faithful.

Watching from his box in the stadium, Maradona hung a banner in honour of the returning hero, bearing the message 'Thanks for coming back, Carlitos', which he then passed down to Tevez, who draped it around his shoulders before continuing his lap of honour of the pitch he first graced in 2001 as an 18-year-old.

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Former Premier League ace Carlos Tevez kisses the turf at the Bombonera stadium following his return to Argentine outfit Boca Juniors

Tevez kicks the ball towards fans in the stands as the former Juventus and Manchester City man gives a gift to a member of the crowd

Tevez, who has been capped 72 times by Argentina, revealed he could not wait to return to Boca Juniors when he left the club in 2004

Argentina legend Diego Maradona was at Bombonera stadium to welcome Tevez back to his boyhood club

Boca Juniors fans welcome Tevez back during his official presentation as more than 40,000 turned up at the stadium

Boca Juniors fans climb the wire fence of the stands to watch the presentation as Tevez is unveiled

Fans packed their stadium to watch Tevez's homecoming as he officially joined Boca Juniors after leaving Juventus

Tevez is draped in flags as he is given a warm welcome back to the club where he started his professional career in 2001

Tevez admitted he had 'grown as a person and a player and developed into a reference point for the squad' on his return, and said he wanted to 'show all the youngsters what Boca is all about'.

Although United and City fans may balk at the mention of the word loyalty where Tevez is concerned, Boca is the one club to which his allegiance has never been in doubt, and the reception he got here was worthy of the devotion he has always showed to the club he grew up watching.

As a 13-year-old, he took the drastic measure to join the club he supported, changing his name from Carlos Alberto Martínez to Carlos Tevez, his mother's name, to get out of contract with Buenos Aires club All Boys, who refused to let him join Boca.

Four years later he made his professional debut for the club and in three years played 110 games, scored 38 goals and won four trophies: a league title, the Copa Libertadores, the Copa Sudamericana and the Intercontinental Cup.

Boca supporters began queuing to get into the Bombonera to greet Tevez as early as 09:00 local time, for a presentation which began 10 hours later.

Christened 'the player of the people' by Maradona, the supporters of Boca, who hail from the working class neighbourhood of the same, have always identified with Tevez, who comes from the notorious Fuerte Apache neighbourhood in Buenos Aires.

Carlos Tevez kisses La Bombonera pitch on Boca Juniors return

The 31-year-old poses for a picture with members of the 'Carlos Tevez Foundation' as he is presented as a Boca Juniors player

Tevez hailed his long-awaited return to Boca Juniors as the best day of his life as he was greeted by more than 40,000 supporters

Tevez poses with the Boca Juniors shirt, and the striker will wear the No 10 shirt for the club he has rejoined

Tevez waves to a selection of the 40,000 supporters who turned up to welcome the Argentina international back to the club

Tevez came through the ranks at Boca Juniors before leaving the club to join West Ham in the Premier League in 2004

Tevez has always admitted he is fortunate to have risen from the immense poverty in which he is raised and has never forgotten where he has come from.

Fans attending his homecoming were asked to bring non-perishable food items to donate to a soup kitchen in Fuerte Apache, and children from the Carlos Tevez Foundation which he founded in his hometown joined the player on the Bombonera pitch.

Tevez also has a habit of revealing the name of his hometown and other poor Argentine neighbourhoods under his shirt while celebrating goals, which is why the nickname Maradona gave him is repeated so often.

'The supporters identify with me, and the feeling is mutual,' added Tevez.

'I always thought about returning home once I left. You feel alone and it's difficult. I felt that way every Sunday (when Boca played). The world of Boca devoured me. But now I'm more prepared.'

Tevez will begin training with the squad on Tuesday while his debut will come against Quilmes on Saturday at the Bombonera.

Carlos Tevez welcomed back Boca Juniors by 40,000 supporters

Tevez was all smiles as the striker was unveiled to the media on his official return to the club he emerged from, Boca Juniors

Tevez (centre) greets Boca Juniors supporters and poses for pictures with them before his official unveiling

Tevez's return follows a long tradition of Argentine players returning to their boyhood clubs towards the end of their careers, with Boca greats Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo and Maradona all heading back to the Bombonera after spells in Europe.

But while Maradona returned to Boca a tubby 34-year-old with one ban for doping and another for cocaine under his belt, Tevez returns at the peak of his powers, his 20 goals firing Juventus to a league and cup double last season and the Champions League final, and clubs including Liverpool and Atletico Madrid both wanted to sign him this summer.

Boca are also in good shape, going top of the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday night, with just under half the season to go.

'I've returned at my peak, which really is right now. When I was 26 or 27 I was fatter than anyone. Right now I'm better than ever, on a physical and a mental level,' said Tevez.

'Diego Simeone was interested in taking me to Atletico and I'm grateful for that, but I was only concerned about coming home.'

'I want to thank Carlitos for choosing to come home despite having many offers,' said Boca president Daniel Angelici.

'This is a night of emotions and happiness, where dreams come true.'

'I've never had a better day than this one,' added Tevez.

Tevez spearheaded the Juventus attack last season as they won two trophies in Italy and reached the Champions League final

But Tevez has now departed the Italian giants and secured his return to Argentina with his former club, Boca Juniors

'First of all because these are my people. Secondly, because I don't have to speak English or Italian. And third, because I'm back with my family.

'As a fan I think the supporters need to experience joy and the love of the players. To win trophies, not just games. The fans got used to celebrating winning titles. We have to bring that mystique back, I want to show the youngsters what Boca is all about.'

Tevez said the best moments of his first spell with Boca were the 2003 Copa Libertadores triumph and the subsequent Intercontinental Cup victory over AC Milan, but fans will always associate Tevez with one particular moment.

That was his vital goal at fierce rivals River Plate in a Libertadores semi-final tie in 2004 and his chicken dance celebration, which saw him sent off for provoking River's supporters, who are known in Argentina as 'the chickens' for their reputation as bottlers.

It was Tevez's only goal against Boca's greatest enemy, but he will have the chance to strike against them again when the two teams meet in early September.

Tevez joined Boca's supporters in mocking River's relegation in 2011, chanting 'If you don't jump, you got relegated'.

River knocked Boca out of the Copa Libertadores this season and on Tuesday play their semi-final tie against Guarani of Paraguay, and the timing of Tevez's presentation has not gone unnoticed.

Rounding up the press conference, the club's MC said to the returning idol: 'Now you're here we need to beat River and win the league.'

And the 31-year-old, grinning from ear to ear, shot back: 'That's why I came back.'