Carlos Tevez is expected to skip Manchester City's Europa League match against Juventus tomorrow - and so too could Mario Balotelli.
Manager Roberto Mancini has apparently had a change of heart, according to reports in Italy, after initially saying the former Inter striker would travel.
Balotelli, 20, suffered racist abuse at the hands of some Juventus supporters last season.
He was also targeted by hardcore Italy fans during a recent friendly against Romania in Austria.
The 20-year-old has had a mixed start to life in English football. He has scored goals, been injured and banned, with his attitude called into question.
Only last Saturday at Upton Park he was substituted during the 3-1 victory over West Ham after picking up a yellow card.
With Tevez and Balotelli missing, Mancini would be short of attacking options as Roque Santa Cruz is not on their squad list, leaving Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo as the senior strikers.
Tevez returned to work today after a short break and took part in a training session at the club's Carrington training complex.
He was suspended for the game against West Ham, following which news broke that he had handed in a written transfer request, which has been rejected by the club.
While City insist they have no intention of selling their talisman and skipper when the transfer window opens next month, Mancini risks keeping a very disenchanted player on his books if he does force Tevez to stay.
At the centre of the problem is Tevez's trusted advisor Kia Joorabchian, who City accuse of manipulating the striker and who in turn is furious at the attack on a man whose bond with him will never be broken.
Mancini apparently made the decision to rest Tevez in Turin before the weekend, knowing the game was a dead rubber.
Although City are looking to top the group, Tevez is one of a number of senior players who are expected to be rested.
Mancini is currently back in Italy for a minor eye operation and will probably not speak to Tevez before Friday.
Mancini's first public thoughts on Tevez will come tomorrow when the Italian hosts a press conference in Turin.
City and Lech Poznan are already through to the next stage of the tournament with Juventus, now second in Serie A, eliminated.
Former City striker Uwe Rosler, meanwhile, has called for Tevez to be stripped of the captaincy.
Rosler, who remains a popular figure among the fans after scoring 64 goals in 177 appearances for the club, is baffled by the player's behaviour.
He told Radio Manchester's Blue Tuesday programme: "City supporters idolise Tevez because of the way he is playing and the way he is leading by example on the field.
"But we have seen the other side when he is not living up to his responsibility as club captain off the field.
"He has been making strange comments about his future, about his ambitions in football and lately handing in a transfer request.
"That is disappointing and difficult to understand. I would take the captaincy away from him, 100%."