Manchester City’s talismanic captain Carlos Tevez recently released a statement declaring his intention to leave the club, in order to spend more time with his family.
On Monday, the Argentine hitman confirmed to the club’s official website the following: “It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club. I would like to state that I have great respect for the club, its supporters and the owner, Sheikh Mansour, who has been nothing other than respectful to me.”
Personal problems
Tevez has encountered personal problems with his estranged wife in recent years, as she failed to ever settle in well in England, opting to take the player’s two daughters, Kate and Florencia, back with her to South America.
“I hope that the people understand the difficult circumstances I have been living under the past 12 months, in regards to my family. Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for mew. 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.”
It is a well-known fact that should Tevez remain in Europe, playing in either Spain or Italy, his family would be willing to return to live with him. But are Manchester City going to allow him to leave the club this easily? And will the interested continental giants such as Inter Milan or Real Madrid be willing to pay the astronomical fee it will cost to sign him?
Mancini’s dilemma
City manager Roberto Mancini is facing a massive dilemma in regard to whether or not he approves Tevez’s departure from the club. Contracted for another three years, the Italian tactician is in a very strong position when it comes to negotiating a potential transfer for his skipper. Despite the player’s latest revelation, Tevez did hand in a transfer request in the January transfer window earlier this year, only to have it refused by Mancini – a scenario that could occur once again.
Should City go down this path however, keeping a player of Tevez’s stature and value, who does not want to be there, can cause serious disruption. To Tevez’s credit, he handled himself with the utmost professionalism in the winter transfer window, following the rejection of his request. But such behaviour may not be guaranteed this time around, particularly if Tevez feels that City are blocking his departure. The Telegraph has reported that Tevez’s City team-mates were in fact pleased that their captain had publicly announced his unhappiness at the club. They also called for Belgian centre-half, Vincent Kompany, to replace Tevez as the club captain.
So Mancini is left in a very difficult position – sell a player who has scored 53 goals in 86 games and led City to FA Cup glory, or risk fracturing the club spirit in keeping him?
Potential swap deal for Inter’s Eto’o
Just recently Mancini told the News of the World that the club had tried to broker a deal with Inter Milan in swapping Tevez for Samuel Eto’o. Inter refused the deal, baulking at Tevez’s £200,000 per week pay packet, and were also keen on retaining their star striker. Now that Tevez has openly declared how desperately he wants to be reunited with his family however, a pay cut may be something facing the 27-year-old. Rumors have also been circulating with regards to Eto’o’s desire to play in the English Premier League, so perhaps the two club may recommence their negotiations.
If Tevez does leave the club, Mancini must replace him if City wish to pose a serious threat to Manchetser United and Chelsea for next season’s league title. Edin Dzeko has thus far proved largely ineffective in his six months at the club, whilst fiery Italian starlet Mario Balotelli is not yet mature enough to carry the Eastlands outfit to league success. Indeed Tevez may be almost irreplaceable as far as City are concerned, unless of course Eto’o were to arrive in Manchester.
£50 million price tag
City have slapped a £50 million price tag on their skipper, a fee that few clubs can afford to meet. Combine that with Tevez’s high wage demands, and City may be happy to just leave Tevez on the transfer market for the time being. Real Madrid have been linked with the Argentine all summer, but are yet to make a serious offer for the striker.
It is hard to see any club willing to purchase Tevez for that price, so in some respects the situation is currently akin to a Mexican standoff. Does Mancini bite the bullet and offload the sulky striker for a cut-price deal? Does Inter entertain the possibility of swapping their star striker Eto’o? Or will Tevez be forced to remain in Manchester against his will?
Expect this to be a drawn out saga, with a result likely in the final few days of the transfer window. City fans can rest easy knowing that their club will not let Tevez walk out unless they strike a good deal elsewhere. But do City fans want to keep hold of a player who perennially voices his dissatisfaction at the club?
Should Manchester City sell Carlos Tevez?
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