Tevez asks to leave Manchester City

Carlos Tevez has announced his intention to leave Manchester City this summer, citing family reasons. Tevez, 27, is currently on international duty with Argentina at the Copa America but - in a statement issued

to the Daily Mail newspaper - said he had informed City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak of his desire to leave.

He had only just been tipped to stay by Eastlands coach Roberto Mancini, who revealed on Sunday that a swap deal with Internazionale for Samuel Eto'o failed to materialise.

"It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the former Manchester United and West Ham striker said. "I would like to state that I have great respect for the club, its supporters and the owner, Sheikh Mansoor, who has been nothing other than respectful to me.

"I hope that the people understand the difficult circumstances I have been living under the past 12 months, in regards to my family.

"Living without my children in Manchester has been incredibly challenging for me. Everything I do, I do for my daughters, Katie and Florencia. I need to be closer to them and to spend more time with them."

Tevez - whose spoken English is limited despite five years in the country - has long complained of his unhappiness in England, with his family still living in Argentina and apparently only willing to move to a Latin country.

He submitted a transfer request during the season just ended, but was convinced to stay as City went on to win the FA Cup and finish third in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League.

The former Boca Juniors forward had also said his ideal move would be home to Buenos Aires, where his two young daughters live with their mother, but admitted that would be unlikely at this stage of his career, with Spain the most likely destination.

"I need (my children) to be happy because my life is about them now," he continued. "I need to be in a place where they can adapt.

"Being captain of Manchester City, qualifying for the Champions League, winning the FA Cup and finishing as top-scorer last season has made me very proud.

"I hope that most of the City fans will understand that I have given them my all on the pitch and that my dedication to the city cause has been 100 per cent on the pitch.

"I hope I have done my bit to help City continue their progress towards their ambition to be champions of England and to advance in the Champions League. I have no doubt that the players and management of City will achieve great success in the future."

Tevez, who acrimoniously moved to Eastlands from bitter rivals United two seasons ago, has scored 43 league goals in 65 matches for City and is expected to fetch upwards of £40 million.