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.

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. 

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. 

(dailymail.co.uk)