Carlos "Tevez-Gate" Takes Turn for the Worse; Argentine Threatens Lawsuit

After finishing the 2010-11 season with such a flourish—his two goals against Stoke City in a 3-0 Manchester City victory on May 17 were a fitting final testament to such a spectacular campaign—Carlos Tevez quickly voiced his desire to leave his club of nearly two years (he joined in 2009).

Things have only gotten worse.

Picking up a news brief from the BBC, ESPN Soccernet reported Wednesday that Tevez is mulling the option of suing Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for defamation of character following the well-chronicled bust-up during September's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, during which Tevez allegedly refused to come on as a substitute, to Mancini's considerable chagrin.

The Italian boss lambasted the contentious striker in his post-match press conference that night, saying that if he had his way, Tevez's career at City would be "finished."

Mancini had told the collection of journalists gathered in attendance after City's loss that Tevez had refused to enter the game, something the Argentine striker immediately challenged. 

The situation soon spiraled out of control, with Tevez's famed adviser Kia Joorabchian coming to his client's rescue, claiming Tevez was "mistranslated" and did not, in fact, "refuse to play"—he had only refused to warm up—on that unforgettable night.

Tevez would continue to vehemently deny the accusation that he "refused to play," stating that he had already warmed up and simply did not want to warm up again.

Nevertheless, Manchester City wasted little time in slapping Tevez with a four-week wage stoppage after an internal club investigation found that the Argentine had "breached" a five-pronged tenet of his contract, which reads that a player under contract has certain obligations:

1. An obligation to participate in any matches in which the player is selected to play for the club when directed by a club official.

2. An obligation to undertake such other duties and to participate in such other activities as are consistent with the performance of the player's duties and as are reasonably required of him.

3. An obligation to comply with and act in accordance with all lawful instructions of any authorised official of the club.

4. An obligation to observe the statutes and regulations of FIFA and UEFA, the FA Rules, the League Rules, the Code of Practice and the Club rules, including but not limited to breach of Rule E3(1) of the FA Rules (obligation on the player at all times to act in the best interests of the game and not act in any manner which is improper or which brings the game into disrepute).

5. An obligation not to knowingly or recklessly do anything or omit to do anything which is likely to bring the club or the game of football into disrepute or cause the player or the club to be in breach of the rules (as defined in the contract) or cause damage to the club.

Tevez has found allies in both compatriot Carlos Tevez and, perhaps more surprisingly, Paul Scholes, both of whom questioned the far-from-straightforward accounts of the episode.

Soccernet had previously reported  that City were unlikely to receive support from players within the club as they pursued action against Tevez. Apparently, the majority of the players staunchly refused to verify the rumors that Tevez had actively sought to refuse Mancini's wishes.

The out-of-favor striker (that's putting it mildly—this has gotten as bad as a middle school silent treatment) has still managed to attract a host of suitors, who have sniffed the airs of pervasive discontent currently swirling about the situation, and are ready to pounce.

West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and even Brazilian club Corinthians (with whom Tevez played from 2004-06) have made inquiries as to the player's availability, with designs on a move—loan or permanent—during the upcoming winter transfer window.

Having trained by himself since Sept. 21, it is looking increasingly likely that Tevez's position at the club has become untenable.

Is it his own doing? To a certain extent, yes. Whatever the true nature of the mix-up in communication during the Bayern Munich match, something was amiss. You don't often see that sort of ensuing polemic arise out of nothing and gain such incredible traction.

Tevez, easily one of the Premier League's top performers last season (39 total appearances, 23 goals, nine assists) has famously see-sawed between voicing his desire to leave Eastlands at all costs and stating that he could remain.

The much-publicized summer signing of additional striker Sergio Aguero notwithstanding, Tevez had made clear his intention of wishing to leave the club soon after the 2010-11 season ended.

A potential £40 million deal with aforementioned Corinthians had at one point seemed on the verge of going through, only for the negotiations to hit a snafu.

Add that to Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the iconic Manchester United manager had declined to pursue signing Tevez on a permanent deal following the 2008-09 season (Tevez played with United from 2007-09) because he "believed Tevez would quit the game in four years' time," and you've got a one-way ticket to bizarro-ville.

That allegation was swiftly denied by Tevez's camp.

But Tevez has indicated in the past that he has "considered walking away from the game" (both in 2009 and 2010). It is a wishy-washy stance that does him few favors in generating his employer's trust.

City appear adamant in their desire to receive "market value" (Tevez cost City nearly £47 million back in '09, the Daily Mail reported) for their apparently soon-to-be erstwhile star, but it seems difficult to believe they will get their asking price with the player so unsettled. It may have come time for them to cut their losses of this cancerous situation.

Then again, they may seek to play hard ball and bite the bullet, waiting for this latest Tevez tempest to pass over until they can forge a deal they find suitable to their initial asking price.

City currently maintain a five-point lead at the head of the Premier League standings, so it's difficult to say that the situation is undermining the club's fortunes.

From Tevez's standpoint, a move back to South America may be just the remedy for his jeopardized career.

Brazilian star Adriano, who famously struggled with adapting to the European lifestyle when with Inter Milan, initially flourished upon returning to his homeland in 2009 with Flamengo on a one-year contract. In 31 appearances, the World Cup '06 member scored 19 goals with the club he'd made his first professional appearance with and helped lead them to the Brazilian Serie A title.

That anecdote notwithstanding, Tevez and City have apparently become incompatible—and to be honest, have looked it since the early summer. But City hold the cards. It's on Tevez to bite the bullet and make it work in Manchester or head elsewhere.