Carlos Tevez: Striker claims he tried to contact Roberto Mancini before returning to Argentina

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez claims he tried to contact Roberto Mancini before and after he took the decision to head back to Argentina.

The South American has returned to his homeland despite being informed by City that he was expected at training on Wednesday.

Tevez did not show for a session intended to help him rebuild his fitness following the recent row regarding his non-involvement in the UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

City are disappointed to have seen the striker go AWOL so soon after settling that particular dispute and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has told Sky Sports News HD that Tevez risks incurring further disciplinary proceedings.

Stance

It remains to be seen what action the Premier League leaders will take, but they are refusing to waver in their stance that the forward and his advisors were not given permission he could leave the country.

Tevez, though, has hit back by claiming that he made every effort to get in touch with Mancini before he left.

He says he tried to reach the Italian coach by text and by phone over the weekend.

He also claims that he made another effort to explain himself to his boss when he arrived in Buenos Aires on Monday.

Tevez feels he is being unfairly singled out by the club just a few days after being told that he would be treated the same as any other player following the end of an internal investigation into his actions in the European clash with Bayern.

Response

A spokesman for Tevez said: "He tried countless times to speak to Roberto Mancini.

"He was told it was Mancini's decision as to whether or not he could go and left numerous voice messages and texts on Mancini's phone.

"He didn't receive a response at all. He then flew to Argentina and tried to speak to Mancini again yesterday, leaving messages and texts.

"As of this moment we've had no response."