Former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler slams Carlos Tevez

Tevez submitted a transfer request (Getty Images)

Former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler claims Carlos Tevez should be stripped off the captaincy and allowed to leave.

Tevez returned to training yesterday after handing in a transfer request that was promptly rejected at the weekend.

Rosler, who remains a popular figure among the fans after scoring 64 goals in 177 appearances for the club, is baffled by the Argentina international's behaviour.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "I like players who want to play for the manager. I would let him go as long as long as the price is right. City have to get the money back for him.

"They are fortunately in a very good position regarding the owners and replacing Tevez. In the long term it is important that every player is totally committed to City.

"You should have a dressing room with more harmony and spirit with everyone driving in same direction. Look at Chelsea and Manchester United, when they were winning titles there was not so much noise as there is coming out of the City dressing room."

According to Rosler, Tevez does not deserve to wear the captain's armband.

He said: "City supporters idolise Tevez because of the way he is playing and the way he is leading by example on the field.

"But we have seen the other side when he is not living up to his responsibility as club captain off the field. He has been making strange comments about his future, about his ambitions in football and lately handing in a transfer request.

"That is disappointing and difficult to understand. I would take the captaincy away from him, 100%."

Tevez is expected to skip City's Europa League match against Juventus tomorrow - and so too could Mario Balotelli.

Manager Roberto Mancini has apparently had a change of heart, according to reports in Italy, after initially saying the former Inter Milan striker would travel.

Balotelli, 20, suffered racist abuse at the hands of some Juventus supporters when an Inter player last season.

He was also targeted by a number of Italy fans during a recent friendly against Romania in Austria.

With Tevez and Balotelli missing Mancini would be short of attacking options as Roque Santa Cruz is not on their squad list.

It would leave Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo as the senior strikers.

Mancini apparently made the decision to rest Tevez in Turin before the weekend, knowing the game was a dead rubber.

Mancini is already back in Italy for a minor eye operation and will probably not speak to Tevez before Friday.

The City boss's first thoughts on the situation will come tonight at a press conference in Turin.

City and Lech Poznan are already through to the next stage of the tournament with Juventus, now second in Serie A, eliminated.