Carlos Tevez is back in training with Manchester City after being granted extended leave and missing the Community Shield.
Striker back in training after summer leave
Carlos Tevez is back in training with Manchester City after being granted extended leave and missing the Community Shield.
The Argentine striker announced earlier in the summer that he wanted a move away from the club after finding it increasingly difficult to live apart from his children.
Roberto Mancini respected Tevez's decision and it looked like he would never return to the Etihad Stadium after a bid was accepted from Brazilian side Corinthians.
However, a deal was not finalised and City have made it clear they would demand a higher fee from a European rival.
Inter Milan have emerged as the favourites to sign the 27-year-old but his future remains unclear and he has now flown back in to Manchester.
Greeted
He was given extra time off this summer after taking part in the Copa America for his country and was allowed to stay home until after Sunday's Community Shield, which City lost 3-2 to Tevez's former employers Manchester United.
Tevez arrived at the club's Carrington training ground on Monday morning as a passenger in a black Hummer, and was greeted by a security guard before going into the complex.
Mancini will now have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with Tevez about the situation, as City gear up for the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Sergio Aguero has been signed in a big-money deal from Atletico Madrid this summer but it remains to be seen whether Tevez will stay beyond the end of August and play alongside his compatriot in a mouth-watering strike partnership.
Balotelli
Mario Balotelli is another option up front for Mancini after starting in tandem with Edin Dzeko at Wembley over the weekend.
Balotelli endured a frustrating afternoon and disappeared straight down the tunnel after being substituted in the second half, before returning to the bench to sit with his team-mates a few minutes later.
Mancini maintains that he did not have a major problem with Balotelli's behaviour, although he concedes the youngster did not have his best game.
"Every time Mario does something, people read things into it," said Mancini.
"I think he can do his job better. He can play better than he did here."
