Carlos Tevez’s hopes of leaving Manchester City before Tuesday’s transfer deadline could be over after Milan put their pursuit on hold until summer.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani announced the club were dropping their interest in signing the troubled Argentine striker in the current transfer window after completing a transfer for Maxi Lopez from Catania.

With PSG and Inter – the other two clubs heavily linked with Tevez this month – having also pulled out of negotiations, the 27-year-old striker may now have to stay at City.

Galliani said the Italian champions had set a deadline of 19.00 local time for a final decision and said: “At 18.30 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.”

But he added: “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.”