Carlos Tevez says talk of his Manchester City exit is premature, but as speculation persists that he will be heading for Serie A in the summer with Internazionale or Juventus the likely destination, the Argentine has refused to confirm he will be with the club next season.
Tevez led City to their first major trophy in 35 years with the 1-0 FA Cup final win against Stoke on Saturday.
But he said afterwards: “The club wants me to stay but I have to make sure everything is okay for my family. I’ll have to speak to them about that and see if I have to go.
“It’s a decision that I have to make with my family, who are the priority. My kids are a long distance away from Manchester and if there is an option to go then it will be something to do with my family. It would be a personal decision rather than a professional one.
“Everyone is saying I’m already out, but I’m still here and I haven’t decided anything yet.”
Tevez, 27, handed in a transfer request last December as he complained of homesickness and a desire to be closer to his family, with his two daughters in Argentina.
But he denied a relationship breakdown with the club or manager Roberto Mancini had left him considering his options.
He added: “It’s not a matter of changing my mind. Everyone knows that in December we had some problems with the directors of the club.
“As everyone knows we had a meeting, we discussed various things and now it’s a thing I need to discuss with my family.
“I want to make it clear I have nothing against the club or Roberto. We have a great relationship. We are both winners and what to achieve more things for the club.
“Sometimes there were some problems between us but I think that happens everywhere.”
With two games remaining, including a Premier League return match with Stoke tomorrow, Tevez will bide his time over a decision that will be as important for City as it will be for him.
He said lucrative terms on a new contract would not be a reason for him to stay, but dethroning former club Manchester United as Premier League kings could be.
“We are becoming a big team,” he said. “We’ve got big players and it’s normal that when you don’t play so good people will criticise you.
“We knew not everyone would accept us, but we’re not playing to shut these people up, we’re playing to hit our objectives.
“We are trying to win things, we are trying to build a team to win things including the Premier League.
“That is a great motivation to stay. It would make me very happy to win the title here.”
Manager Mancini still hopes Tevez will be persuaded to stay, even though he only wants committed players at the club. So too his team-mates.
Pablo Zabaleta, who has known the frontman since they were teenagers playing for their country, said: “A player like Carlos you want to stay for a long time. He’s an important player, a great player, but you never know what can happen in football.
“We know other good players will want to come now since we are in the Champions League.
“We know we have talent in the team and great players who are looking forward to the future. The club is growing, we all know that.
“How far it will grow, we will see, but it’s important to start to win more trophies and the title.”
