Carlos Tevez set to return to Manchester City on Tuesday
- Published
Mancini 'happy' if Tevez returns
Manchester City expect Carlos Tevez to return to the club on Tuesday.
The Argentine, 28, is set to report to their Carrington training ground on Tuesday morning, when he is likely to undergo a series of fitness tests.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said he would welcome the return of the striker, who has not played since it was claimed he refused to warm up against Bayern Munich in September.
"I don't have a problem and the club doesn't," said Mancini.
Tevez is expected to board a flight from Argentina on Monday and is set to arrive in the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
His dispute with Manchester City has cost him close to £10m in wages, fines and lost bonuses.
He was fined £1.2m for gross misconduct for refusing to return from South America, where he has been since November, during which time City have refused to pay wages estimated at £200,000 a week.
The former Manchester United and West Ham player was strongly linked with moves to AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain during the January transfer window, but none of the interest materialised into a transfer.
Mancini is hopeful Tevez can play some part for City this season.
Speaking after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday, the Italian insisted the ball remains in Tevez's court.
"I spoke with Carlos one week after Munich. He knows everything," said Mancini, who has seen his side struggle for goals without suspended striker Mario Balotelli.
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"We are here. We've not changed these past few months and Carlos knows that. He is a City player.
"Everyone knows that Tevez is a top player and it probably would have been better for us if he'd been here.
"Carlos can change a lot of games. If he comes back next week, maybe he can help us in the last three months."
But Mancini has made it clear that he expects the Argentina international, who joined City from rivals Manchester United in 2009,, external to apologise.
"This is normal," he said. "Then, after, Carlos can train, can play, as long as his condition is good."