Mancini wants Tevez out after he refuses to play
Carlos Tevez may have played his last game for Manchester City after refusing to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, incurring the anger of manager Roberto Mancini.
- Associated Press
- Updated: September 28, 2011 09:38 AM IST
Carlos Tevez may have played his last game for Manchester City after refusing to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, incurring the anger of manager Roberto Mancini.
Mancini wanted to bring the Argentina striker off the bench in the second half as City was trying to recover from 2-0 down in the Champions League game, but Tevez refused.
"If I have my way, he will be out," Mancini said. "If we want to improve as a team Carlos can't play with us. With me, he's finished."
The Italian manager said he would discuss the situation with the club's Abu Dhabi owners and leave the final decision to them.
Asked about Mancini's comments, Tevez told Sky Sports television through a translator: "That's a decision for him to make."
Tevez captained City last season and lifted the FA Cup for the club in May - City's first major trophy since 1976.
The 27-year-old striker had asked to leave the club in January and again pushed for a transfer during the offseason to be closer to his family in Argentina, but no club met City's reported 50 million-pound ($79 million) asking price.
He has started just one Premier League game of six so far, the Sept. 10 victory over Wigan when he featured for 61 minutes.
"I've been a professional during all my time here," Tevez said. "Last season I was the best scorer. I have said I wanted to leave for family reasons but I keep trying to do my best."
Tevez joined City from crosstown rival United in the 2009 offseason on a five-year deal.
Mancini said Tevez was "probably" upset that he was not brought on as the first substitute, when striker Edin Dzeko was withdrawn in favor of midfielder Nigel de Jong 10 minutes into the second half.
"I decide this, not Carlos," Mancini said at a news conference. "If one player has a lot of money (to) play for Manchester City in the Champions League and he has this behavior, for me he can't play, never."
It was not the only problem Mancini had to deal with in Munich, with pictured Dzeko shaking his head at Mancini as he was replaced.
"He was disappointed but he played a bad game," said Mancini of Dzeko. "This is the last time that he has this behavior."