Hailed as the biggest transfer in Argentine football history when it was finally completed two weeks ago, this evening Carlos Tevez was given a suitably sensational welcome by over 40,000 Boca fans, including Diego Maradona, inside La Bombonera. After a hugely successful, trophy-laden playing career in Europe with Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus, Tevez finally makes good on his promise to return to where it all began. At 31 and still a feared striker in Europe’s top competitions the move is earlier than expected but after witnessing the scenes in the packed Bombonera today, Tevez admitted “I’ve never had a better day than this one.”

Early this afternoon the crowds began to gather outside La Bombonera waiting for a chance to get inside and see El jugador del pueblo back in Boca colours for the first time since his departure to Corinthians in 2005. Few players have identified so strongly with the supporters but the boy from Fuerte Apache has been cherished since he first pulled on a shirt and his return when still in his prime footballing years could bring a new era of success to the club.

“The supporters identify with me, and the feeling is mutual. 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.”

With Tevez now available and ready to begin training Rodolfo Arruabarrena will have the most feared attack in the country at his disposal. Sunday’s victory over Sarmiento saw them go top and now with Tevez likely to slot into the side for the visit of Quilmes on Saturday, you would not bet against Boca lifting the Torneo 2015 trophy.

Argentine players returning to end their careers with their boyhood clubs is not an uncommon sight but the difference with in the case of Tevez is that Boca are getting a player still at his peak. A point not lost on the player himself: “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.”

For this reason Juventus did not want to see Tevez leave and there was plenty of interest from other clubs across Europe. Tevez admitted, “Diego Simeone was interested in taking me to Atletico and I’m grateful for that, but I was only concerned about coming home.”

From one #10 to another: Diego Maradona was in attendance to personally thank Tevez for coming back to Boca

Perhaps from in a footballing sense the move makes little sense. Few would voluntarily call time on a career in Europe when still capable of scoring goals, winning honours and earning a lot of money but Tevez appears to have other values and when asked why he returned he said:

“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.”

Winning the 2003 Copa Libertadores and subsequently defeating a supremely talented AC Milan side to win the Intercontinental Cup in Japan were highlights from Tevez’s first spell with Boca and although their Libertadores expulsion this year means that they will not be repeating that feat until 2016 at the earliest, a league title ahead of rivals River Plate would be a sweet return.