Tevez deal set to collapse

Corinthians’ inability to make an immediate payment has stalled Carlos Tevez’s transfer from Manchester City.

The clubs appeared to have come to an agreement for the transfer of the Argentine striker, reportedly for a fee in the region of 40 million pounds.

But City’s request that Corinthians make their first payment before the transfer is completed, rather than in early 2012 as proposed by the Brazilian Serie A side, appears to be a deal-breaker.

Corinthians’ director of football, Duilio Monteiro Alves, confirmed the negotiations have stalled, saying: “I’m pessimistic. City want us to start the payments now, and we cannot do that.”

The transfer window in Brazil closes on Wednesday, meaning a resolution will need to be made swiftly if the deal is to go ahead.

However, Tevez’s attorney Adrian Ruocco did not seem confident a deal would be done in time.

“Regrettably, judging from the pace of negotiations right now, it is improbable that we will come to any agreement with Corinthians,” Ruocco told Lancenet.

“The only thing that stands in the way of a deal is this matter about the first instalment. But we will wait until Wednesday, that is the only thing we can do.”

One suggested solution is that Corinthians provide bank guarantees in order for a new payment structure to be worked out.

City boss Roberto Mancini will be hoping to resolve the matter quickly as the club prepares to put in a bid for unsettled Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero.