But after an extraordinary bust up with boss Roberto Mancini, where he appeared to refuse to come on as a substitute in Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat at the Allianz Arena, his City career now looks finished.
Certainly while Mancini remains in charge at the Etihad Stadium it looks unlikely the 27-year-old will feature for the club. With this in mind Sportsmail looks at the striker's immediate options.
Spat: Roberto Mancini gestures towards Carlos Tevez on Tuesday night
Move in JanuaryIt's the first point of call but who wants him? After requesting to leave during the summer there were hardly any serious offers apart from Brazilian side Corinthians.
Once that deal fell through, news on the Argentine leaving quickly died down and it wasn't as if City were that desperate to keep him.
While Tottenham had Luka Modric under lock and key, Roberto Mancini would have been happy to let go of the unsettled player for the right amount of money - after all there is an embarrassment of riches in attack at the Etihad Stadium.
But while Tevez originally just wanted a move back to South America, even he will be happy to arrange a quick exit abroad in January as his career in the Premier League looks over.
Forlorn: Tevez has been benched for most of City's season
Go on loan With the transfer window closed it's going to make things very difficult for Tevez to immediately up sticks and play somewhere else, but he does have one possible option.
He is still adored by fans at Championship club West Ham who would bend over backwards to have him in their team, even if it was just until January.
Tevez has always had a good relationship with the Hammers and it's not unreasonable to suggest he could finish his English career at Upton Park - the same place he started it in 2006.
A drop down a division is far from ideal and clearly inferior to the striker but it didn't harm Craig Bellamy (another City rebel) who spent the last campaign in the same division at Cardiff following a similar fall-out with Mancini.
Where to next? Mancini and Tevez have endured a rocky relationship
Rot in the reservesMancini could in theory take the easiest option and banish him from the first-team. The Italian doesn't need any further disruptions and putting Tevez in the reserves would be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind.'
Even making him train with the youth team is an option, either way it is the football equivalent of sweeping the dirt under the carpet.
It's a waste (and a lot) of money to pay someone like Tevez to trudge into the training ground at Carrington, use the facilities then go home again without an intention of playing him, but we are sure City have the financial muscle to cope.
On the road: Tevez leaves City's training ground on Wednesday
Pay up his contractIf Tevez cannot wait until January another option is to agree to buy out his contract with Manchester City.
With the club just as desperate to find a quick solution they could be willing to let Tevez pay his way out the club, despite the fact he can't take advantage of the Webster Ruling until next summer.
However, should Tevez become a free agent he still won't be allowed to join a club until January as rules state players released after the close of the transfer window cannot move until the following window opens.
It would be an extreme measure for the Argentina international who would have to pay out nearly three years of his contract simply because he couldn't wait three months to leave.
Unfazed: Tevez smiles after the game on Tuesday night
Sack him!Tevez could be happy to collect his high wages until January - even if City do exclude him from any first-team duties.
But should the club want to get rid of him sooner there will be a fine tooth comb going over the Argentine's contract.
If they find that Tevez's actions have breached certain clauses, the club could decide to take further action and it wouldn't be a Premier League first.
After finding out striking flop Adrian Mutu had failed a drugs test in 2004, Chelsea wasted no time in sacking the Romanian rather than attempting to sell him or let him see out a hefty contract.
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Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail