Roberto Mancini has hinted at a softening stance on Carlos Tévez by claiming the Argentine will be restored to the Manchester City squad if he says the “easiest word” and apologises for the actions that have made him an outcast at the club.
Tévez, absent for the Champions League Group A match against Villarreal in Spain, is considering an appeal against a fine of two weeks’ wages — reduced from four weeks following the intervention of the Professional Footballers’ Association — after being found guilty of five breaches of contract as a substitute during the 2-0 defeat against Bayern Munich on Sept 30.
City manager Mancini had declared that Tévez was “finished” at the club and would “never” play under him again after accusing the 27 year-old of refusing to play in the Allianz Arena.
But with Tévez and his advisers considering suing the Italian for defamation and City faced with the prospect of the player triggering Fifa’s Article 15 and attempting to force a cancellation of his contract at the end of the season should he continue to be overlooked, Mancini is open to the prospect of a truce — but only if Tévez apologises for the events in Munich.
“Everything depends on Carlos,” Mancini said. “If he apologises to the squad and to me, then everything will be as before. Every morning — every day — we can all make mistakes, but it’s important that we apologise. If we do, then it is finished. I think like this. He needs to do it first. It’s an easy word. I think it’s one of the easiest words to say. It’s very easy to say sorry.”
Mancini held talks with Tévez at his Cheshire home three weeks ago in an effort to resolve the situation, but those discussions failed to persuade Tévez to apologise. But with both parties involved in an increasingly divisive war of words, Mancini claims that Tévez is being undermined by the guidance offered by his advisers. Mancini said: “I always did [apologise as a player]. Every time. I told Carlos this 20 days ago. If he doesn’t [apologise], then Tévez has a value that everyone knows and something will happen in January. No one from City will be given away. But he is totally unprepared and being badly advised. I don’t want it to be like this and I would be the first to forgive him.”
With the prospect of Tévez invoking Article 15 — which allows players to request a cancellation of their contract on the grounds of sporting just cause if they appear in less than 10 per cent of first-team fixtures in a season — it is understood that Mancini is aware of the likelihood that he may have to reintegrate the player into his squad at some stage, perhaps even restoring him to the first team.
The 2009 precedent of Goran Pandev successfully challenging Lazio’s decision to force him to train alone after falling into dispute with the club has been raised by the media in relation to the Tévez situation, although the two cases are not identical.
Sources close to Tévez last night declined to comment on Mancini’s call for an apology, however, and the situation on the player’s part remains unchanged, with discussions still ongoing as to whether he should appeal against the punishment issued by the club last week.
Mancini, who has named Kolo Touré in his squad despite the defender being the subject of a club disciplinary hearing on Monday over his failed drug test, has warned his players to expect a tough test against Villarreal tonight. The Spaniards left Manchester after a 2-1 defeat last month aggrieved by comments by Sergio Agüero, who scored an injury-time winner for City, suggesting that Villarreal “deserved” to suffer the agony of conceding the late goal.
Agüero had already earned a reputation as a controversial figure at Villarreal as a result of highly-charged clashes against the club while with Atlético Madrid, but Mancini insists the forward will not be distracted tonight. “Sergio didn’t do anything [after the Villarreal game],” Mancini said. “If he plays he will be OK. He is experienced and has played at Villarreal many times with Atlético. It won’t be easy because it is a difficult place to go to. But Sergio will cope with it.”
Having been held to a draw by Napoli before losing to Bayern, City must beat Villarreal, who are without cruciate ligament victim Giuseppe Rossi, to ensure they remain in control of their Champions League destiny. But Mancini, who has Mario Balotelli available again after a three-match European suspension, believes that his team’s fate will be decided by their trip to Naples later this month.
“If we do well in Naples, then maybe we can play Bayern in the last group game for the right to finish first,” he said.
Spurs eye cut-price deal for Emmanuel Adebayor
TOTTENHAM will be offered a cut-price January deal to turn Emmanuel Adebayor's loan into a permanent move.
The Manchester City striker, 27, is spending the season at Spurs, who have a £14million option to buy in the summer.
City are currently paying half of Adebayor's reported £170,000-a-week wages, and the ex-Arsenal ace has hinted he would love a full-time return to London and will take a wage cut.
Juventus and Paris St Germain are also interested.
City believe letting him go for less than they could command once the campaign finishes may tempt Tottenham into signing Adebayor now.
Getting his wages off the books would also allow City to chase targets like Napoli duo Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik.
And a £4m discount would help make the deal a reality.
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby has suffered a setback in his bid for fitness - prompting Arsene Wenger to order a move for Real Madrid's Esteban Granero. Metro
Liverpool are interested in signing Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone. The 24 year-old, who is out until December following ankle sugery, has found Luka Modric, Sandro and Scott Parker all in front of him in the first-team pecking order. Daily Mirror
Liverpool are also keeping tabs on Inter Milan full-back Cristian Chivu - but face competition from Manchester City, according to Italian reports. talkSHIT
Stoke are to hold talks with 21 year-old VVV Venlo striker Michael Uchebo over a potential move to the Britannia Stadium. Daily Mail
Fulham are set for battle it out with Italian side Atalanta as they bid to sign winger Mervan Celik from Swedish team GAIS. Daily Mirror
After acknowledging that Rio Ferdinand is no longer an automatic choice, Sir Alex Ferguson is lining up a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic. Metro
Meanwhile, Manchester United target Mehdi Benatia has said: "I have signed a deal with Udinese but I think I will leave at the end of the season." talkSHIT
Newcastle have joined the race for 20-year-old Argentine forward Facundo Ferreyra, who currently plays for Banfield. Inside Futbol
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has hit out at pundits who criticised Lionel Messi for a supposed goal drought last month, saying they were trying to "destabilise and harm" the Argentine star. Messi went three games without scoring before notching hat-tricks in successive games against Mallorca and Viktoria Plzen. Marca
Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has criticised his Bolton team-mates after their defeat to Swansea. Daily Mail
Spurs playmaker Rafael van der Vaart has warned Arsenal not to get carried away with their win over Chelsea, insisting Spurs are still the best team in north London. Metro
Lille star Eden Hazard says Lionel Messi lacks the elegance of players like France legends Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini. Inside Futbol
Arsenal's Jack Wilshire called on his Twitter followers to decide whether to let in his electrician - after the workman revealed a large Spurs tattoo. Metro
Sheffield Wednesday chief Milan Mandaric has laughed off claims he could sell the club to a Playboy model, after Sybil Danning was linked with a takeover bid for the Owls. Daily Mail
Tottenham have confirmed that manager Harry Redknapp is to undergo a medical procedure, the details of which have not yet been revealed.
The 64-year-old will therefore be unable to travel with the squad to Russia for their Europa League fixture against Rubin Kazan on Thursday.
Spurs occupy top spot in Group A, two points ahead of Greek side PAOK.
Assistant manager Kevin Bond and first-team coach Joe Jordan will assume first team duties in Russia in his absence. Triffic
