Shanghai Shenhua forward Carlos Tevez has reiterated that he is happy with life in China, but has not ruled out a return to his boyhood club Boca Juniors at some point in the future.
Tevez left Argentine club Boca in December to sign a lucrative two-year contact with the Chinese Super League outfit, and his agent Adrian Ruocco said this week his client can only exercise a release clause in December, one year into his deal.
The 33-year-old's upcoming holiday to Buenos Aires later this month has fuelled speculation that he will eventually put pen to pen on a new deal with local club Boca.
In an interview with Radio Mitre, Tevez talked about his decision to leave Boca, saying: "I don't regret anything, not even leaving Boca because it was the time to do so. I wasn't enjoying myself that much and I wanted to think about my family. I'm content and happy here [in China]. I get to enjoy my family and live peacefully."
As for a move back to Boca one day, Tevez said: "I still haven't made a decision on whether to return, although each time it becomes more difficult. In 10 days, I will be on holiday in Buenos Aires and I will see what I do."
Tevez is reported to be meeting Boca president Daniel Angelici during his stay in Buenos Aires, but he made it clear he will be heading back to China after his visit.
"I will go on holiday but I will not be staying," he said. "I have to return [to China]."
Boca president Angelici said last month that if Tevez decided to return to Argentina, "the club doors would always be open."
The pressures associated with playing for Boca were the main reasons for Tevez's departure from the Argentine club last December.
"The extras [to the] football side saturated my head," Tevez said. "During the week, I would suffer a lot. I would get a boost of energy from the fans when I stepped in La Bombonera. Now, I have gained in terms of family life but not from a football standpoint."
Injuries have not allowed Tevez to show his best form in China. He has scored just two goals while setting up four more in 11 league starts, while he was sidelined for Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Guizhou Zhicheng.
The midweek result left Shenhua 12 points adrift of third-placed Tianjin Quanjian in the Chinese Super League standings.
"I have a calf problem after a knock that I received on a scar that I had back when I was playing at West Ham and it prevents me from training," Tevez said. "I go from injury to injury and the team is in the middle of the standings and I cannot give my all."
Tevez, who enjoyed plenty of success in the Premier League with Manchester United and Manchester City and in Serie A with Juventus before returning to Boca in 2015, said he still thinks about his hometown club.
"I miss Boca," he said. "I miss the fans, wearing the jersey every Sunday and stepping on to La Bombonera. I would return for the Boca fans, for the people. These are things that I think of when considering whether or not to return.
"If I return [to Boca], I know that I will have to continue to prove myself. I will have to play at a higher level than what I played at there before."