TheSportsCampus

Manchester City’s rebel striker Carlos Tevez has been left in no man’s land after reports emerged that AC Milan had pulled out of the race to sign the Argentine. The Italian champions are the latest club to turn away from a deal, after other suitors like PSG and Inter Milan also turned their back. Milan had always maintained that they would bring either Catania’s Maxi Lopez or Tevez to the club and all hopes of any deal have been scuppered with Lopez sealing a move to the San Siro.

Milan president Adriano Galliani was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying, “At 1830 I was convinced we were very close to sealing the Tevez deal. I did my best, it was a day where I had my heart in my mouth, but no more could be done. We had everything set for Tevez to come, but the situation changed.”

He went on to add, “With Maxi I kept my word: we had a deadline of 7pm today, and since we had not reached an agreement with City we have filed Lopez's signing with the league. He is a very important player. We can use him in the Champions League.”

Now the only option left for the Argentine is to return to City, although he is unlikely to feature for their first team given his differences with manager Roberto Mancini. His agent Kia Joorabchian confirmed that the player be going back and was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, “[City manager Roberto] Mancini has been very clear that he doesn't want Carlos in the first-team. Carlos is going to have to come back, pick up his money and play with the reserves. He's not that type of player who wants to walk around the club with that hanging over his head, though.”

The only hope now left for Tevez is if a club comes calling in the summer. Galliani too hinted at a possible summer bid and was quoted as saying, “Who knows with Carlitos - there is only a few months (until the summer transfer window )and that's it. I'm happy with how we are left with City, we have a very good relationship. Today was still very important because we have solved some misunderstandings of recent days with City, relations are much improved. But, patience, life goes on. The market will reopen in four months, we'll see.”

This is certainly a situation that both City and Tevez were looking to avoid, although one does feel the reason for the failure of a move is due to certain mistakes made by both parties. While City saw it fit to reject Inter Milan’s £21m bid, Tevez made a move to PSG impossible by asking for an exorbitant amount of money. The recent developments will undoubtedly also have an effect on City’s spending power, with Mancini having been told by the hierarchy to spend only what he generates through sales. Perhaps a little more flexibility from either side would’ve been to everyone’s advantage.