Troubled Tevez has new excuse for Mancini

CARLOS TEVEZ made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini about flying to Argentina before taking the trip and missing training, according to the player’s representative.

Tevez travelled to his native country on Monday night to see his family, and while Tuesday was a scheduled day off for the 27-year-old, he was due at City’s Carrington training ground yesterday morning — but did not show up.

The club have stressed that it had been made clear to Tevez that he would be required to come in, but it seems the striker believes he made every effort to seek permission for his journey home.

A spokesman for Tevez said: “He tried countless times to speak to Roberto Mancini.

“He was told it was Mancini’s decision as to whether or not he could go and left numerous voice messages and texts on Mancini’s phone.

“He didn’t receive a response at all. He then flew to Argentina and tried to speak to Mancini again yesterday, leaving messages and texts. As of this moment we’ve had no response.”

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor expressed his dismay at the fresh turn of events.

“To say the least, I am very disappointed and extremely concerned now,” Taylor said.

“To go out to Argentina when as I have been informed — he was clearly told not to because they (City) needed to work on his fitness, and to blatantly ignore that instruction starts to affect any chance of any reconciliation now.

“He is making it virtually impossible to have a reconciliation and leaving himself very vulnerable to strong action by the club. The lad is digging himself a hole and it is going deeper.’’