Saturday, January 28, 2012
Carlos Tevez’s advisor Kia Joorabchian claims a rift with manager Roberto Mancini is at the heart of the player’s dispute with the club.
But Joorabchian accepts the pair will have to put their differences to one side and work together for the rest of the season if Tevez’s hopes of a January transfer are scuppered.
Tevez has been in his native Argentina without the club’s permission since November having not played for them since September.
The 27-year-old is hoping to secure a move before the closure of the current transfer window next Tuesday.
Tevez first agitated for a move in December 2010 but at the time stressed that he had no personal issues with Mancini, who took charge 12 months previously.
That position, however, appears to have worsened significantly since.
Joorabchian said yesterday: "The relationship with Mancini, ever since Mancini came into the football club, has not been good.
"You think about last Christmas when Carlos wanted to leave and it was all to do with feuds with the manager, and I think that just carried on and on.
"There was a point when Carlos did say, ‘I can’t get on here’.
"And he is not the only one. You have to reflect back.
"(Craig) Bellamy had to leave Manchester City in an awkward way, (Emmanuel) Adebayor has had to leave Manchester City in an awkward way, Shay Given has had to leave Manchester City in a semi-awkward way, Wayne Bridge has been isolated and is not even training with the first team.
"He is not alone, Carlos."
Mancini recently said it would be "impossible" for Tevez to return to his side.
Yet Joorabchian has indicated that the player accepts he will have to return to City if he fails to secure a move in the next four days.
Joorabchian said: "City have made a position where they would like to move the player on, but at a certain price.
"We’ve been in negotiations with three big clubs.
"I don’t think anyone has reached the numbers City were hoping for.
"Carlos has always said this is not about money for him.
"At the moment it looks like Carlos will remain at City until this summer."
Joorabchian added: "Carlos does understand he has a contract and he has been walkabout, but Carlos has come to terms with the fact he has got to come back and live with Mancini."
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain are the three clubs to have been heavily linked with Tevez this month.
City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak said earlier this week that the club would not sell below their valuation, believed to be around £25million.
However, AC Milan’s pursuit of Tevez appears to be at an end after they formally registered the signing of Maxi Lopez with the Lega Serie A.
The Italian league last night confirmed that the Rossoneri have lodged Lopez’s contract with them, a move which should halt Milan’s pursuit of Tevez.
Lopez, who has scored three goals in 14 league appearances for Catania this season, joins Milan on loan, with the option to make the move permanent in the summer.
But Joorabchian has not ruled out a future move to PSG.
"I think Carlos is maybe six months to a year too early for them. They are not yet fighting for the Champions League."
© Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited, City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 73385.