Roberto Mancini: ‘Carlos Tevez needs international rest’
Manchester City’s talismanic captain, Carlos Tévez, flew back to Argentina earlier this week in a bid to speed up his recovery from a thigh problem, but Roberto Mancini believes his star striker needs a break from the rigours of international football.
The Italian boss, who reportedly had a bust-up with Tévez earlier in the season over his training methods, is unhappy with the amount of travelling his captain is required to undertake in order to play for the Argentina national team, and hinted that he should be allowed more time to rest.
"International football is a problem for Carlos," Mancini said. "Argentina don't play games in Europe but in South America, Japan or Australia and this makes it difficult for him.
"He arrived back from the last international break tired. He needs time to recover. Argentina have a friendly against Brazil in November, but I hope for that game he can stay here. It would be better for him and his country."
Speculation has been rife over recent weeks that Tévez is discontented with life at the City of Manchester Stadium – and with football in general. After the disappointment of the 2010 World Cup, where Argentina were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Germany, the former Manchester United striker revealed he’d pondered walking away from the sport altogether.
“After returning from South Africa I thought about quitting football, but I have a large family and now I have to continue,” Tévez was quoted as saying.
“Football doesn't make me happy or as fulfilled as before. It becomes difficult to play like this.”
Despite the rumours of Tévez being deeply unhappy in England and homesick, the three-time South American Football of the Year has still been in scintillating form for the Premier League contenders this season, leading the top-scorer charts with seven league goals.
But from a candid interview earlier this month, it’s clear that Tévez has become increasingly disillusioned with the sport.
"When I talk about quitting, I mean quitting football, not just the national team," the Argentinian said. "But at the moment I still don't know if this is going to be in one month, one year, three or five years.
"I have the idea of quitting in my mind. Maybe one of these days, I will just wake up and say no more football."
At 26, and currently in the form of his life, the Manchester City faithful will be desperate to see Tévez rekindle his love with the sport before he loses faith for good – and before Mancini loses his most important player.
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