• Premier League

I could still stay at City - Tevez

ESPNsoccernet staff
May 16, 2011

Carlos Tevez has revealed he would be happy to stay at Manchester City if he can find a solution to his family issues.

Strong speculation has linked the Argentina striker with a move to Italy this summer, but after helping the club lift the FA Cup, Tevez has claimed he is not set on a move away but must solve his personal problems before he knows where he wants to be.

''My family are my priority, I don't have a problem with anyone at the club. Everyone treats me right,'' he said. ''I have a great relationship with (Roberto) Mancini. We are both winners. But there is an issue we need to sort out and that's the long distance between me and my family.

''There are still two games to play and we are only focused on that. Then I will talk with my family and everyone else. I have not made a decision on anything yet.

''The club wants to me stay and I also want to stay if everything is okay for my family. I don't know if I'm going to leave or not or going to Spain or Italy. People say I am going but I am still here.''

Tevez recovered from injury to take his place in the FA Cup winning side and said the players were focused on talking the club to the next level.

''It was a great moment because the fans wanted it so much and they deserved it. We won it and we are very, very happy,'' he said. ''It's a big club with big players and it's normal that when you don't play so well people criticise. But we are not playing to shut people up but are playing to achieve our objectives.

''We are trying to get the team to keep win things and the Premier League is included in that plan.''

Director of football Brian Marwood wants Tevez to focus long and hard on what he would be missing after the club ended their 35-year wait for a trophy and booked a place in the Champions League qualifiers in the space of a week.

Marwood told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: ''We are working hard to keep Carlos as we are with everybody. I just hopes Carlos reflects on the season, reflects on yesterday, reflects on the fact we are going to be playing Champions League football and thinks this is something I want to be part of.

''That is up to Carlos to think through in the summer. You would like to think Manchester City is going to be an interesting place over the next few years. Carlos asked for a transfer in January and the club refused that. He is a massive player for us. He is our captain, he is our top goalscorer. Everyone can see that when he steps over that white line he gives everything.

''He came into the final yesterday having just recovered from a very nasty hamstring injury but once again showed great leadership qualities.''

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