No Tevez for Galaxy fans Sunday, but he remains a Manchester City player – for now

i-bc81b65db0eb7b262ac6ec8fbab8b501-mufcgalaxynewsconf.jpgFrom left, Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini, Manchester City player Gareth Barry, Galaxy striker Juan Pablo Angel and Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena attend a news conference today in Marina Del Rey to promote Sunday’s World Football Challenge game between the two teams at Home Depot Center (AP Photo).

From the obligatory World Football Challenge news conference today at the Ritz-Carlton:

MARINA DEL REY (AP) – Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini considers Carlos Tevez an important member of his squad despite the Argentina striker’s uncertain future with the club.

Tevez has expressed a desire to leave the English Premier League club after
two seasons in order to be near his family in South America. He remains with Manchester
City after an agreement on a move to Corinthians was unable to be worked out.

“At the moment, Carlos is still a City player,” Mancini said. “In the future, we will see what
can happen. For us, Carlos is an important player.”

Mancini said he has yet to speak with Tevez but respects the captain’s wish to play closer to his family. The Manchester City manager said the uncertainty isn’t affecting the way he is preparing for the season.

“Carlos wants to leave for his family,” Mancini said. “Only because of this the, club accepts
it. I think it’s because we respect his reason.”

Tevez appeared to be on his way to Corinthians until the proposed move fell through this week. The transfer would have reunited Tevez with his former club, but Corinthians said they needed more time to arrange a deal.

Tevez has been a stabilizing force up front in his time with City, scoring 43 goals in Premiership play over the past two campaigns. He had 20 goals last season in helping
Manchester City qualify for the Champions League.

While his departure would be a blow to Manchester City, the club is exploring avenues of
improving its squad through the acquisition of multiple players, according to Mancini, who
wouldn’t mention specific names.

The club has been linked to highly sought-after striker Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid. But Mancini cautioned that the competitive market doesn’t make it easy to sign players of Aguero’s caliber.

“It’s difficult to buy good players because all the good teams want these players,” Mancini
said. “I hope before the game against United, we can add players.”

Manchester City has been training in the United States in preparation of its season opener
against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield on Aug. 7.

Manchester City will play the third game of its preseason tour Sunday against the Galaxy. Already Manchester City has defeated Club America and the Vancouver Whitecaps on its trip.

“The games have been good for what we need at this stage of preseason,” midfielder Gareth Barry said. “The one on Sunday will probably be the toughest test. But we’re where we want to be.”

Tevez has been absent from the U.S. tour while playing for Argentina in Copa America. Barry said his teammates remain relatively unaffected by the uncertainty surrounding the star striker.

“Obviously, there are a few conversations about it. But the lads are just trying to get fit and enjoy the games,” Barry said. “For the players, there’s nothing really you can do anything about.”

Here’s how Brit Chris Birchall, the Galaxy midfielder, is approaching the game against a club that dwarfs those he played for in England.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email