I want out of Manchester City now, declares Tevez

CARLOS TEVEZ last night stunned Manchester City by demanding a transfer request, saying he has to leave England for the sake of his family.

City had been fearing their captain would leave this summer, but manager Roberto Mancini was confident on Sunday that his star player would stay when he revealed that a possible swap deal for Inter Milan’s Samuel Eto’o had collapsed.

However in a statement last night Tevez revealed that “with great regret”, he has decided he wants out.

The Argentine paid tribute to owner, Sheik Mansoor and City’s fans but perhaps tellingly not Mancini with whom he has always had a difficult relationship.

“It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club,’’ Tevez said. “I would like to state that I have great respect for the club, its supporters and the owner, Sheik Mansoor, who has been nothing other than respectful to me.’’

Tevez said he had to leave for the sake of his family.

His estranged partner Vanesa, the mother of his two children, could not settle in Manchester and returned to Argentina with their daughters. It is believed they are happy to move to a Mediterranean destination for the warmer climate and way of life.

Tevez hopes a transfer to either Italy or Spain can be agreed, but is likely to face a battle to find a club willing to pay his £250,000 a week wages or City’s £40m valuation.

‘‘I hope the people understand the difficult circumstances I have been living under the past 12 months, in regards to my family,’’ he said.

“Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for me. Everything I do, I do for my daughters, Katie and Florencia. I need to be closer to them and to spend more time with them.

‘‘I need them to be happy because my life is about them now. I need to be in a place where they can adapt.’’

Tevez went on to wish City the best for the future, stating his achievements at the club last season made him proud.

‘‘Being captain of Manchester City, qualifying for the Champions League, winning the FA Cup and finishing as top scorer last season has made me very proud,’’ he said.

‘‘I hope that most of the City fans will understand that I have given them my all on the pitch and that my dedication to the city cause has been 100% on the pitch.

“I hope I have done my bit to help City continue their progress towards their ambition to be champions of England and to advance in the Champions League. I have no doubt the players and management of City will achieve great success in future.’’

City have not responded to Tevez’s statement and attempts to speak with Tevez will be complicated due to his present commitment to Argentina at the Copa America.

The only possible reason for hope the club can take is the fact Tevez was persuaded to withdraw a transfer request last season.

Then Tevez claimed he wanted to leave City because his relations with “certain executives’’ at the club have “broken down beyond repair’’.

However within days he withdrew his request and expressed “absolute commitment’’ to the club.

The loss of Tevez would be a major blow for their hopes of challenging for the title next season.