Carlos Tevez could be set for a return to football at the age of 38, months after ending his third spell with boyhood club Boca Juniors, with talks ongoing over a move to Major League Soccer.
The Argentina international began his professional career more than 20 years ago, while nearly a decade has passed since his sixth and final season as a Premier League player.
A goalscorer for West Ham United, Manchester United and Manchester City during his time in England, Tevez claimed in November he had "no desire" to return to professional football despite earlier suggesting he could keep going into his forties.
Now, though, American side D.C. United are hopeful of talking the veteran into what could end up being one final crack at top-flight football.
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"I would like something to grab my interest and motivate me or which brings something out of me," Tevez said in November, having left Boca over the summer, and he reportedly turned down an approach from Ecuadorean side Barcelona.
"Right now, every time I watch Juventus, Boca or a team I've played for, I look inside myself for that fire to motivate myself to play for six months or a year longer and I can't find it."
However, according to The Athletic, talks are ongoing over a sensational return to a club where his former Man Utd teammate Wayne Rooney once played.
D.C. are yet to agree financial terms with Tevez, according to the reports, and are said to have a 25% chance of reaching an agreement with the Argentine.
Fellow MLS clubs Minnesota United and Orlando City are also reportedly interested in the veteran, with Orlando having recently lost designated player and former Man Utd star Nani to Venezia.
D.C. United finished last season in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, narrowly missing out on the end-of-season playoffs, and have an Argentine coach at the helm in Hernan Losada.
Former Man Utd man Rooney was a teammate of Tevez for two Premier League seasons, and also spent two campaigns in Washington D.C. towards the end of his career.
The ex-England international spoke of the "superb" people at the club upon announcing his decision to leave the club for a player-coach role at Derby County, where he has since taken over as manager.
D.C. United have already added one former Premier League player to their ranks ahead of the 2022 season, signing ex-Liverpool defender Brad Smith from fellow MLS side Seattle Sounders.
If Tevez does sign, he would not be the first player from an Argentine giant to do so, with Ramon Abila joining on loan from Boca last season and former River Plate star Marcelo Gallardo spending a season with the club during his playing days.
