Roberto Mancini closes Manchester City door on Carlos Tevez once more

Carlos Tevez v Roberto Mancini In a Champions League match against Bayern Munich there was much heated debate on the Manchester City bench. Afterwards, City manager Mancini claimed Tevez had refused to come on as a substitute. Tevez denies the claims an (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini today repeated his belief that Carlos Tevez has played his last game for the club.

City found Tevez guilty of five breaches of contract for refusing to warm up in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich in September.

Tevez was suspended for two weeks and had a four-week fine halved after the intervention of the PFA.

He flew home to Argentina early last week without permission from City.

Asked today if Tevez could play for the club again, Mancini replied: "I don't think so.

"I know he is in Argentina. I don't know what he is doing."

Premier League leaders City are at home to Newcastle tomorrow and Mancini added: "Why are we continuing to talk about Carlos? We have an important game tomorrow."

Mancini, speaking at a regular pre-match press conference, was also asked if the club had managed to make contact with the player.

"No," he said. "It is not important at this moment. We have this problem and we hope it can be resolved."

Mancini added that the long-running affair has not affected the mood among the rest of the squad.

He said: "I think this important. The squad is good and the players are positive at this moment.

"It is important that we start (back in) the Barclays Premier League tomorrow with a result."

Tevez, 27, has been pictured playing golf back in Argentina this week.

The striker has not played for City since the infamous match at the Allianz Arena more than seven weeks ago.

Mancini initially stated Tevez was "finished" at City after accusing him of refusing to play as a substitute.

Tevez argued that he only refused to warm up but did not contest City's conclusion that his actions effectively amounted to not playing after a disciplinary hearing.

PA