Confusion surrounds Tevez transfer to Corinthians

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said yesterday that the English Premier League club had agreed a deal to sell Carlos Tevez to Brazilian side Corinthians.

“At the moment we have an agreement with Corinthians, but Carlos now is still a City player,” Mancini told Sky TV.

Reports claimed that the deal would be closed when personal terms between the 27-year-old Tevez and his new club are agreed. However, Corinthians later released a statement denying any such agreement had been reached.

“The truth is that Manchester City sent Corinthians a counter-proposal this morning,” the statement read.

“In that proposal, the English club have asked for changes in the form of payment and the total value of the transaction. Furthermore, Manchester City insisted that Tevez renounce a sum outstanding with the English club.

“Finally, Corinthians president Andres Sanchez informs that for the moment nothing concrete has been agreed regarding Tevez and that the counter-proposal will be analysed by him and his board.”

The Brazilian side’s initial offer for the striker was reportedly worth €40 million.

The striker wants to leave Manchester to be closer to his daughters, who live in Buenos Aires with their mother, his estranged partner.

The Argentina forward, formerly with West Ham and Manchester United, led the Citizens to FA Cup glory and Champions League qualification last season.

Selling Tevez to Corinthians would enable City to offload him to a club with whom they are not in direct competition, either domestically or in Europe, while also improving the player’s family arrangements.

Tevez said yesterday that he “would have no problem to go back to Corinthians”, where he won the 2005 league title and became a great crowd favourite.

If Tevez does leave, City are expected to bid for compatriot Sergio Aguero, of Atletico Madrid.

Aguero’s agent Hernan Reguera admitted that the striker’s future will soon be resolved after Argentina’s elimination from the Copa America.

“He wanted the Copa America to end to sit down and talk. During this week everything will be settled,” Reguera said.

Reguera insisted that Aguero’s decision to leave Atletico had nothing to do with money and that he wants a new challenge.

Aguero, Diego Maradona’s son-in-law, has a release clause of €50 million at Atletico.