Carlos Tevez could sue Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini for defamation of character – report

Carlos Tevez may sue his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for defamation over comments he made to the media following the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Tevez is unhappy that Mancini insisted he did not want to come on to the pitch when he feels that his only crime was refusing to warm-up for a second time.

And now reports across the British media are saying that he will take the drastic step of suing his manager as his advisers believe that none of the five charges laid against him on Tuesday are fair, with the player apparently vindicated that nobody who was interviewed was willing to say that he refused to go on to the pitch.

In the letter he received telling him of the club’s decision, City’s chief operations manager Graham Wallace wrote: “My decision is that in full view you refused to carry out instructions given to you by Mancini and [fitness coach] Ivan Carminati to resume warming up with a view to playing in the match... and you are thereby guilty of misconduct.”

This would apparently seem to backup Tevez’s argument that his only crime was not warming up.

The 27-year-old was fined four weeks' wages by the club for his misdemeanour and has 14 days to appeal, which it appears certain he will do. If his appeal fails, he can take his case to the Premier League.

Tevez is available to play for City again having seen out his two-week ban from straight after the Bayern match, but he is still being linked with a move to Brazilian club Corinthians, who he came close to joining in the summer.