Tevez return ´impossible´, says Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has moved to dispel any suggestions that rebel striker Carlos Tevez could stay at the club.

Mancini was reacting to comments from his coach David Platt who hinted at a return to first team football for Tevez, should a move from the club fail to transpire this January.

But the Italian put paid to any such suggestion, making a deal for the unsettled striker all the more likely.

“It is impossible. Carlos does not want to stay, we had a problem,” Mancini told The Mirror.

“I think it is important for him to start to play, because he is a football player. It’s three months since he last played, and that is not good for him.”

On Sunday afternoon City host Tottenham in a crucial Premier League encounter but Mancini claimed the 5-1 win his side secured at White Hart Lane has no relevance to this weekend.

“That game was five months ago,” he said. “It’s totally different now. That was early in the season. Since then, I think Tottenham play the best football in the country – after us.”

Tottenham’s team that day contained a couple of faces no longer in the picture for Harry Redknapp.

Peter Crouch led the line but has since been sold to Stoke whilst injuries have ruled out appearances by Tom Huddlestone, Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka.