Confusion surrounds Tevez deal

Brazilian outfit Corinthians insist they have not yet struck a deal to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City with the two sides still locked in negotiations following a counter-proposal from the Abu Dhabi-owned club.

The deal for the home sick Argentine striker, reportedly worth around €40 million, appeared to have been finalised.

Corinthians director of football Edu Gaspar even told reporters that he expected the transfer to be sealed by Monday, leaving Tevez free to join the Sao Paulo giants following Argentina’s Copa America elimination.

Speaking in Vancouver on Monday, Blues manager Roberto Mancini also claimed an agreement had been reached between the two clubs and only personal terms had still to be thrashed out with the Argentina striker.

However, Corinthians later released a statement on their own website insisting this is not the case and that City have attempted to make changes to their initial agreement.

“Regarding the news published during the early hours of today stating an agreement between Corinthians and striker Carlos Tevez, the (club) president Andres Sanchez would like to clarify to the public that Manchester City did not accept the Corinthians offer for the player,” read the statement.

“The truth is that the club sent Corinthians a counter-proposal in the early hours, that due to the time difference only was noticed by the Alvinegra (white and blacks) management this morning.

“In the counter-proposal, the English club have asked for changes in the form of payment and on the value of the transfer.

“In addition, Manchester City has also insisted that Tevez would have to give up a pending amount with the English club.

“Lastly, president Andres Sanchez informs that for the time being there does not exists anything concrete for Tevez and the counter-proposal will be analysed by him and by his management.”

Corinthians are keen to seal the return of the Argentine penalty villain at the weekend in the quarter-final defeat against Uruguay, in order to strengthen their assault on the Brasileirao. The club are currently top of the pile in Brazil after 10 rounds of the league played, unbeaten with eight wins so far.