Carlos Tevez can quit Manchester City...at the double! Roberto Mancini hits out at star
By Chris Wheeler Last updated at 9:58 PM on 29th April 2010
Roberto Mancini has cast doubt over Carlos Tevez's future by telling the striker to find a new club if he isn't happy at Manchester City.
In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail earlier this month, Tevez criticised City for sacking Mark Hughes and complained about Mancini putting his players through double training sessions.
It has since emerged that the Argentina forward will consider his options in the summer if City fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Mancini confirmed yesterday that he had spoken to Tevez about his comments, and made it clear that he does not want to keep unhappy players at the club.
He said: 'For Tevez, for all players, if he is not happy to stay here it's better he goes to another team. 'It's better for Tevez, for Manu Adebayor, for me, for all. It's important that when a manager and players work in a team that they must be happy. It's not good for the club, for the squad, for the player, if he is not.
Argentinean ace: but Tevez could leave City in the summer
Argentinean ace: but Tevez could leave City in the summer
'Tevez has four years left on his contract. But I don't know. If he's not happy, it's better to change squads.'
Tevez has scored 28 goals for City this season, but he spent nearly two weeks at home in Argentina in February following problems over the birth of his second child and is believed to have grown increasingly disillusioned with life under Mancini.
The City boss could look to replace Tevez with Mario Balotelli, who has fallen out of favour at Inter Milan.
Tevez, 26, also told Sportsmail that Mancini has not improved him as a player since he took over from Hughes in December, and complained about having to train twice in the same day, but yesterday the manager was determined to put the record straight.
He said: 'We have trained twice in the same day only four times in five months. Two of those times Carlos was in Argentina, one time he didn't train. I don't know why he was unhappy.
'When we don't have a midweek game I always train two t imes on Tuesday because it's the only way I know. By working we can improve, but we won' t improve if we work two days and have one day off.
'I've spoken to Carlos but what we said is private. I reminded him that he has only once had to train twice in a day. 'When I speak to a player I don't need an apology. I've played football, I know players very well and I know this situation. I think he's happy because he's worked very well the last two weeks.
'I hope Carlos can score three or four goals in the next three games, and afterwards we can decide if he has a problem.'
Asked if a player like Tevez needs to be playing in the Champions League, amid speculation that the former Manchester United striker could press for a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona if City fail to win the race for fourth place in the Premier League, Mancini added: 'Probably - all the players want to play in the Champions League.
'But when you work with the manager or the club to build something, the important thing is that you win with a club that has not won anything for a long time.
'This is more important than winning with Real Madrid and Barcelona, who win every year. I prefer to win with Manchester City than Real Madrid, because there the manager and players are always winning. Changing the history of this club is another thing.'
City goalkeeper Shay Given could miss the start of next season after having major surgery to repair the shoulder he dislocated at Arsenal. The Republic of Ireland No 1 had a three-hour operation in London on Wednesday.
I am in two minds about this. On the one hand I am glad he is taking a strong stance even on the best player at the club. On the other hand I think this should not be dealt with in public at all...