Tevez’s time at City nears end

CARLOS Tevez returned to Manchester City today — but it appears his days as a Blues hero are now drawing to a close.

While City insist they have no intention of selling their talisman and skipper when the transfer window opens next month, manager Roberto Mancini risks keeping a very disenchanted player on his books if he does force Tevez to stay.

Twenty–four hours after it became public knowledge that the 26–year–old Argentinian (pictured) wants to leave, the rift between player and club only got significantly wider.

At the centre of the problem is Tevez’s trusted advisor Kia Joorabchian, who City accuse of manipulating the striker, who in turn is furious at the assertion — and the attack on a man whose bond with him will never be broken.

It seems highly unlikely that Tevez will be asked to travel to Juventus for Thursday’s Europa League tie, but with his side just two points behind league leaders Manchester United, Mancini needs to resolve the problem before the fall–out impacts on what could still be a very successful season.

Mancini is carrying the backing of his club’s supporters and management but the whole saga is going to need very careful handling, even if club legend Mike Summerbee is convinced of City’s future direction, with or without Tevez as its inspiration.

“Bert Trautmann was a great player. Francis Lee and Colin Bell were great players. Bobby Johnstone was a great player,” he reflected.

“They all left, but this football club continued. The club will be there forever.”


::MANCHESTER City have won the race to sign 19–year–old Israel midfielder Gai Assulin.


Assulin, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Barcelona in July, had been chased by several clubs, but City moved first to snap him up on a two–and–a–half–year deal.