Maradona urged Tevez to return

Argentina legend Diego Maradona says he told Carlos Tevez to go back to Manchester City and make up with manager Roberto Mancini.

Tevez returned to City from the bench on Wednesday against Chelsea, setting up the winning goal as the hosts came from behind to win 2-1.

The former captain had not played for City for six months after he allegedly refused to come off the bench in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich in September.

Maradona, in charge of Al-Wasl in the United Arab Emirates, said on Friday he persuaded Tevez to return to Manchester.

“I told Tevez three months ago that he had to talk with Mancini as soon as possible,” he told the Sun.

“I said that because he was losing money – but also because he needed to play football again. I told Tevez, ‘you must go back now’.”

Wednesday’s victory against Chelsea moved City to within a point of English Premier League leaders Manchester United.