Mancini set for talks with Tevez

Last updated : 17 December 2010 By BBC Sport

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to meet Carlos Tevez on Friday in a bid to persuade the Argentine to stay.Tevez, 26, handed in a formal transfer request last weekend, claiming his relationship with "certain executives" at the club was irreparable.

But Mancini is hoping to win round his captain - a process that will see him picked for Monday's game with Everton.

"Will he play on Monday? Yes - he has trained since Tuesday, and he doesn't have a problem," Mancini said.

Tevez was not in the party that travelled to Italy for Thursday's 1-1 Europa League draw with Juventus, Mancini instead giving a number of fringe players a run out with qualification to the last 32 already assured.

I want to talk to Tevez - Mancini

The squad were due to fly back on Thursday evening but were forced to spend the night in Turin after the plane developed a technical fault.

Depending on the rescheduling of the flight, Mancini could be forced to delay the meeting although speaking before the hold-up, the club's first-team coach David Platt said that talks would be a priority.

"Roberto's back tomorrow [Friday] and he'll sit down face to face with Carlos. Everyone's adult about the situation and we'll see what comes of it," he said.

"He's not managed to sit down with Carlos yet because he's been in Italy but that's what will happen."

Tevez has stated that he will continue to play for the club until any transfer is agreed, but speaking on Wednesday Mancini added that he still believed the player could stay for the long term.

"I want to speak to him. He is our player and I hope he continues to play and score for us," added Mancini of a player with more than three years left on his contract.

"I am disappointed because we are in a good moment and in a good position in the table and our focus must be on this."

Tevez situation will not affect team - Platt

Asked whether he thought he could change Tevez's mind, Mancini said: "I don't know, I don't know. Carlos is our player and will stay with us.

"It is important we speak. We have important games coming up - lots of important games this month."

Micah Richards, who captained Man City in Tevez's absence in Turin, added: "I am confident he will stay. He is a big part of our team and I think they will get it sorted out, the sooner the better really.

"We need him in our team. If we want to achieve what we want, he has got to be the main man. He is our captain. We have still got Adebayor, Balotelli and Jo, who had a fantastic game tonight. We have got players there or thereabouts but Carlos is special. If we want to get to where we want to go, then we need him in our team."

Will Mancini be able to talk Tevez into staying

Tevez joined City in 2009 following a two-year spell with rivals Manchester United.

He scored 29 goals in his debut season and has managed 10 in 18 appearances since Mancini handed him the captaincy prior to the start of the current campaign.

But less than 17 months into a five-year contract, the former Boca Juniors, Corinthians and West Ham forward asked to leave.

His adviser Kia Joorabchian, who claims to have tried to talk Tevez into staying, has said that the striker's desire to leave stems in part from City's failure to qualify for this season's Champions League.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport