Tevez in transfer request
Argentine looking to quit City after Mancini bust-up
Last updated: 12th December 2010
Tevez: Handed in transfer request
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Carlos Tevez is threatening to stall Manchester City's title challenge as the Argentine has handed in a transfer request.
City joined Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table after Saturday's win over West Ham without the suspended Tevez, and the influential forward may not return for long after handing in the written request earlier in the week.
Tevez has scored 39 goals in 60 appearances since joining from rivals Manchester United, but his relationship with boss Roberto Mancini is believed to be damaged beyond repair.
And the pair were involved in a touchline bust-up after Tevez was substituted in the recent win over Bolton.
The pair exchanged angry words on the touchline, with Tevez clearly annoyed at Mancini's decision to replace him with James Milner despite the fact he had scored the only goal.
Subsequently, Tevez did not attend the players' Christmas party.
City are yet to confirm the reports and Mancini had insisted this week that Tevez remains an important part of his plans for the future.
But their unsettled star man appears to have decided that his stay at Eastlands is nearing an end.
Tevez is believed to have taken the action amid growing turmoil in his private life. He desperately misses his two daughters who are back home in Argentina, and returning to South America is one option, as is retirement, even though in an interview with City's official club magazine published earlier this week, Tevez insisted he had no such intention.
If Tevez does leave, it will blow a massive hole in City's Premier League title challenge.
Although the striker missed the win at West Ham due to suspension, he has been a hugely influential figure for the Blues since his controversial move from Manchester United in 18 months ago.
As doubts remain over the maturity of Mario Balotelli in the wake of the Italian's petulant reaction to being substituted for his own good at Upton Park and Emmanuel Adebayor seemingly destined to leave in January after failing to make the bench at West Ham, losing Tevez would be a massive blow.
It would also be unpopular among the City faithful, who have taken the 26-year-old to their hearts and would be distraught if Tevez was merely moving on to another club.