Lewis Rutledge looks at what sort of impact Carlos Tevez's transfer request could have on Man City.
Lewis Rutledge looks at what sort of impact Carlos Tevez's transfer request could have on Manchester City
Manchester City supporters should have woken up on Monday morning with a sense of optimism following a victory over West Ham that lifted them joint top of the table.
One or two of the big-money summer signings may not have settled in quite yet, namely Mario Balotelli, but others such as Yaya Toure and David Silva are starting to show their class and, with all the other leading sides struggling for consistency, a first Premier League title was becoming a realistic dream.
Unfortunately though, it appears that City will have to win many more games without their talismanic captain if they are to lift the crown after he stunned the club by submitting a transfer request.
His request was immediately turned down but any hope that City's firm stance would bring an end to the saga before it had really begun was snuffed out by a strongly-worded response from the Argentine later on Sunday.
The striker made it clear that he wanted to leave after his relationships with 'certain individuals and executives' had broken down 'beyond repair', while he also dismissed suggestions from City that he had been 'unduly influenced' by others.
Tevez's statement takes some dissecting and could be interpreted in many ways, but what is apparent is that the ramifications of the weekend's events are set to be felt for many weeks and months to come, both for the player and the club.
Let us first examine the mindset of the 26-year-old, who claimed to have been agonising over his decision for 'some time' yet only last week pledged to honour his commitment to City and try to help the club win silverware.
He has never made a secret of the fact that he is missing his children, who are back in Argentina with their mother, but this was not mentioned in his statement as a reason for the transfer request.
Bold and baffling
Having stated that he has no problem with City owner Sheikh Mansour or manager Roberto Mancini, chief executive Garry Cook is thought to be the source of Tevez's frustration.
But could a falling-out with Cook really be enough to force Tevez's hand or is this just an excuse? Is homesickness the real reason? Or is City's suggestion that his agent Kia Joorabchian is trying to engineer another lucrative switch closer to the truth?
Only one person knows the answer and it is impossible to speculate other than to say a combination of all these factors seems most likely.
Tevez has a history of making remarks that are both bold and baffling, as was the case after his controversial move from Manchester United to Eastlands in the summer of 2009.
Sir Alex Ferguson was criticised in some quarters for not doing more to keep hold of such a talented player but, in light of the fresh developments, the United manager appears to have got it exactly right and the red half of Manchester will be in hysterics.
The Red Devils failed to finish top in their first season after Tevez's departure and were reliant on Wayne Rooney for goals, but they managed to move on and find other successful formulas.
City are likely to encounter a similar dilemma but there are more immediate questions to face. What do they do with Tevez now and what do they do with him in January?
Tevez is expected back from Tenerife on Tuesday after being given time off over the weekend and could theoretically return to the starting line-up for Thursday's Europa League clash with Juventus after being suspended for the trip to Upton Park.
However, it is difficult to see how he could ever play for the club again unless there is a dramatic thawing of relations, even if Wayne Rooney's recent U-turn provides the perfect example of how quickly situations can change.
Resolve
Tevez has three-and-a-half years remaining on his long-term contract and City may opt to let him rot in the reserves if he is not happy, but their resolve is set to be seriously tested when the transfer window reopens.
City are likely to be inundated with offers in the New Year and, although no club in Argentina could afford his high salary, several European heavyweights are sure to be interested.
It is thought that if Tevez joins one of the top continental clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid, he would hope to tempt his family to move to Spain.
City are clearly reluctant to sell their most prized asset and it is easy to see why because Tevez has been an inspirational figure since his arrival at Eastlands, scoring 39 goals in 60 appearances.
But anything other than a January departure could have a damaging effect on the club as it would mean the issue remains unresolved, with Tevez's future the subject of incessant speculation and distracting from the main focus of picking up points on the pitch.
City have the financial muscle to strengthen their attacking options but there are very few in the world of Tevez's calibre, and anybody they do target would be extremely hard to prise away.
Another Premier League club would probably not be prepared to sell to a direct rival at any cost, while a striker coming in from abroad could not be expected to instantly adjust to the demands of English football mid-season.
If City are not able to keep Tevez or replace him adequately they will have to put those title dreams on hold for another season, because even though they have a star-studded squad there are just not enough other match-winners at present.
Mancini's men will keep fighting of course and, after various reports this season about disharmony in the camp, Tevez's request to leave may help to forge a stronger sense of togetherness.
Whether supporters remember Tevez as a traitor or a lost soul who did a great job for 18 months remains to be seen, but the player who was greeted at the club with a poster reading 'Welcome to Manchester' now looks set to make an acrimonious farewell.
