Big spending Manchester City said on Sunday that they have rejected a transfer request from their Argentina forward Carlos Tevez, dpa reported.
The 26-year-old told City he wanted to leave, but the Premier League club said he still has three-and-a-half years of his five-year contract to run and that they expected him to fulfil that deal.
"It is with disappointment that we confirm to our supporters that Carlos Tevez has submitted a written transfer request," City said in a statement, adding that it had been rejected.
Reports in the Sunday papers suggested that Tevez wants to return to Argentina to be closer to his family, who still live there.
But City said his request did not tally with what he had told them and the public in recent weeks about his state of mind.
"Roberto Mancini (the manager) and all at the club have shown and will continue to show sensitivity to Carlos's personal circumstances including the issue of his family being based overseas," the statement continued.
"The written transfer request is in stark contrast to Carlos's stated position in both public and club contexts. Significantly, over recent months, the club has also received numerous requests from Carlos' representative to renegotiate and improve his playing contract as well as more recently a request to extend that contract by another year.
"However, in line with the club's policy of not negotiating playing contracts mid-season this has not been granted. Carlos's current five-year contract has three-and-a-half years to run and he is the highest paid player at the Manchester City Football Club.
"This is both an unfortunate and unwelcome distraction and the club will remain focused on the games ahead in what is turning out to be a very promising season. The door remains open for Carlos to be selected to play."
Despite his supposed wish to return to Argentina, the news is sure to put a host of top clubs on alert.
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