Tévez threatens to sue Mancini following record fine

By David Gold

October 26 – Carlos Tévez (pictured left) is reportedly considering suing his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini (pictured right) following the record fine handed to him by the Premier League leaders.

The Argentine was told that four weeks’ worth of wages would be docked from him, amounting to nearly £1 million ($1.6 million/€1.14 million), for breaching his contract by allegedly refusing to play against Bayern Munich in a Champions League game last month.

Tévez claims that he did not refuse to play, but his Italian manager was fuming after the 2-0 defeat and claimed the Argentine would not warm up.

The player has now been told that these comments could amount to defamation, and he is considering his next step.

The club’s owners have thrown their support behind Mancini, but Tévez has a fortnight to appeal the fine.

He has been suspended two weeks already and has not played since a Carling Cup game with Birmingham on September 21.

The former West Ham United and Manchester United player looks likely to depart sooner rather than later, with Brazilian championship contenders Corinthians hoping to resurrect a failed attempt to re-sign their former striker in the last transfer window.

The club’s President, Andrés Sánchez (pictured), believes the player could be even cheaper now after being frozen out at City, causing his value to plummet.

“Tévez is close to joining Corinthians, though many people do not believe it,” Sánchez claimed.

“Before the offer was €40 million [£35 million/$56 million], now the figure is €18 million [£16 million/$25 million].”

The club have denied any such deal is in place, though with few other potential suitors either able to afford the player or interested in signing him, Brazil looks his most likely destination.

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