Tevez expresses desire to leave City

Club captain wants to spend more time with family.

LONDON:

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez has confirmed Manchester City’s worst fears by saying he must leave the club to spend more time with his children, according to an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail.

City captain Tevez led the side to FA Cup glory and qualification for the Champions League last season but all the while did so while living apart from his young daughters.

He is currently playing for Argentina in the Copa America but, in a statement published on the Mail’s website, Tevez said, “It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club.

“I would like to state that I have great respect for the club, its supporters and the owner, Sheikh Mansoor, who has been nothing other than respectful to me.

“I hope that the people understand the difficult circumstances I have been living under the past 12 months, in regards to my family.

“Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for me. I need to be closer to them and to spend more time with them.

“I hope that most of the City fans will understand that I have given them my all on the pitch and that my dedication to the City cause has been 100 per cent on the pitch.”

City manager Roberto Mancini has repeatedly insisted that Tevez, who previously played for the club’s local rivals Manchester United, will stay at Eastlands.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.