Tevez : Never criticised Llorente

Carlos Tevez has denied criticising Juventus team-mate Fernando Llorente, insisting that the Spaniard will become a key player.

Reports in Spain suggested that the former Manchester City attacker had said Llorente "would be better off playing basketball", but the Argentine has stressed that he never sad anything bad about his colleague.

"I want to explain I haven't said anything bad about Fernando," he said on his official Twitter account.

"In fact, I believe he is a great player and he will be a key player for us."

Llorente, 28, joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao on a free transfer at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, but has been struggling to make an impact at his new club.