Man City chief Khaldoon al-Mubarak believes the stance taken against Carlos Tevez earlier this year marked a victory against player power.
Chairman feels players will think twice about trying to 'screw' City
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak believes the firm stance taken against Carlos Tevez by the club earlier this year marked a victory against player power.
City refused to sell Tevez at a cut price in the January transfer window, even though the striker was in Argentina in self-imposed exile and being heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.
The frontman went AWOL in his homeland after a bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini which stemmed from his refusal to warm-up in a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich in September.
Tevez, who was fined and suspended for his insubordination, was widely expected to leave the club in January.
But after he joined in a reported £47million deal from Manchester United in 2009, al-Mubarak says the club were loath to let him depart on the cheap.
Value
Having failed to secure a transfer to Milan, Tevez returned to Etihad Stadium in February, apologised to Mancini and helped the club lift the Premier League title.
His exploits in the second half of the campaign no doubt bolstered his transfer value and al-Mubarak is glad City stood firm.
In a new book on City called
Richer than God, the chairman said: "It was a landmark. We cannot allow ourselves, as a club, to be mucked around.
"It was a hell of a gamble for me, not to let him leave for AC Milan in January, because he could have sat out all year, but not played for us and lost his value. But I was firm that we are not rich people to be taken advantage of, to give him what he wants and let the market screw us."
