Crash landing! Tevez flies back to Manchester but his City future remains bleak
By Ian Ladyman
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 14th February 2012
Carlos Tevez arrived back at Manchester City on Tuesday night, but his chances of playing for the club again are still remote.
Tevez was given a police escort when he flew into Manchester after more than three months AWOL in Argentina, then went to City’s training ground for medical tests.
However, any fans hoping the club’s former captain will soon be back in the first-team picture look set to be disappointed as it emerged just how irritated manager Roberto Mancini and the board at the Etihad Stadium are about a TV interview Tevez gave before leaving Argentina, in which he claimed Mancini has treated him ‘like a dog’.
It is understood the Italian is aware of the full contents of the interview and that the club board in particular are now considering fining Tevez again. There may be a club statement issued on Wednesday.
Mancini flies to Portugal with the City squad on Wednesday for a Europa League tie against Porto on Thursday night and is adamant talk of Tevez will not overshadow his preparation.
However, what is clear is that there is no way back into the City team for Tevez unless he says sorry for refusing to warm up at Bayern Munich last September and for fleeing the country two months later. In all likelihood, this apology will have to be made public by Tevez and underlined in private to his manager. Last night, Tevez’s advisers were aware of this and preparing to talk it through with their star client.
Mancini is pragmatic enough not to write the Argentine off completely as an asset and is prepared to listen to what he has to say when City return to Manchester on Friday. Equally, though, he is understood to be prepared, if necessary, to let Tevez return to solitary training.
To Mancini, avoiding any situation that could undermine City’s push for the Barclays Premier League title is paramount.
On Tuesday, Tevez was examined by one of City’s sport scientists. He was weighed and had measurements taken for body fat and aerobic capacity. He will now begin training one-on-one with a fitness coach.
It is understood Tevez received text messages from several City players welcoming him back. Referring to the return of Tevez, plus Yaya and Kolo Toure from international duty, defender Joleon Lescott said on Twitter: ‘All our players are excited to have Carlos, Kolo and Yaya back to help achieve our goal.’
The Toure brothers, who have been on Africa Cup of Nations duty, are flying from the Ivory Coast to Portugal today. Both are available for selection.
More: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2101232/Carlos-Tevez-Manchester-City-future-doubt.html?ito=feeds-newsxml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ds-newsxml</a>