TH, can you tell us who it was that dripped the story to the media ?
I'm curious as to whether it was from Tevez or from the club ?
I think we are all assuming it was from Tevez side, but it wouldn't surprise me if the club did it, on an otherwise good news day, just so that it was out in the open, and called their bluff. We hold all the cards on this one for me, we can out pay anyone on wages, we can ask seriously silly money for the fee, and we could even afford to leave him out in the cold for a season or two, as he has 3 1/2 years to go. If he goes AWOL (ie "retires") he's in breach of contract and I'm sure the club will take legal action against him.
Also like with Rooney, I don't think it puts the player in a good light (and I don't mean with us the fans), it just makes him look like another disloyal mercenary, and that won't encourage the one or two clubs who could take him to do so. None of those clubs are near his kids anyway, so the homesick thing is just bollox.