LONDON: Kia Joorabchian ramped up the pressure on Manchester City to ease their transfer deal demands for Carlos Tevez but saying that the Argentinian striker was prepared, in effect, to sit out the second half of the season back home in Buenos Aires.
Tevez has not been seen in City colours since the Champions League tie in Munich last autumn when he was accused by manager Roberto Mancini – despite his own later denials – of refusing to come off the substitutes’ bench.
Thus far Tevez’s absence has cost the player more than £9m in terms of pay, bonuses and a loyalty guarantee. He had hoped to be sold abroad during the current transfer window.
However City’s demands for at least a £25m fee and refusal to countenance a loan deal have put off Paris Saint-Germain and Italy’s Milan and Internazionale. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak reiterated earlier this week that the club would not drop their price.
Joorabchia, interviewed on talkSPORT, said: “We’ve been in negotiations with three big clubs but I don’t think they have reached the figures Manchester City want. Carlos will remain at Man City until the summer. They [City] would like to move him on but only at a certain price.
“This summer will open up a lot of markets. All of the big clubs are looking for players who can play in the Champions League. Tevez is cup-tied and that creates a big obstacle. You’re spending a lot of money on the transfer and the salary and he can’t play Champions League.
“You have three-and-a-half months and then you can restructure your team, and buy Carlos, in the summer.”
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has said his club had yet to take a decide whether to pursue their interest in Tevez.