• Premier League

Mancini softens stance on Tevez future

ESPN staff
October 14, 2011

Roberto Mancini has performed a U-turn over Carlos Tevez's future by suggesting the striker could play for Manchester City again.

Following Tevez's alleged refusal to come off the bench during City's Champions League loss against Bayern Munich last month, boss Mancini said the Argentina international was "finished" at the club.

In the wake of the Bayern incident, Tevez was suspended for two weeks and, on his return to the club on Thursday, was forced to undertake fitness work alone. Later he was reportedly locked in showdown talks with Mancini, who demanded that Tevez apologised to both himself and chairman Khaldoun Al Mubarak.

Tevez, who faces disciplinary action, is said to have refused - but Mancini admitted the former captain may feature for City again. When asked whether Tevez had a future at the club, Mancini said: "I don't know."

Mancini was speaking at a press conference that began with a City official insisting questions relating to Tevez were off limits.

However, the former Inter Milan manager hinted that Tevez was not in his first-team plans when discussing the strikers available to him for this weekend's clash with Aston Villa. "We have three strikers [Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero] at this moment," said Mancini, who vowed not to take any risks with Aguero's muscle injury.

Tevez is a transfer target for his former club Corinthians, while West Ham are keen to sign him on loan.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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