Fancy coming in for a coffee?

by Bewar3them00n Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:55 pm

Roberto Mancini has taken the extraordinary step of instigating peace talks with Carlos Tevez by inviting him to his house for a clear-the-air meeting that could represent the first move to repair their working relationship at Manchester City.
Mancini, who had previously described Tevez as "finished", rang the striker on his mobile phone on Wednesday night to suggest that both men could benefit from having a face-to-face discussion away from the legal process that has provided the biggest controversy of the football season to date.
Tevez was driving back to Manchester after flying into Heathrow from his holiday in Buenos Aires, but diverted to Mancini's house in Alderley Edge, arriving at 1.30am, and the two men stayed up into the early hours discussing the events that had seemingly fractured their relationship.
The meeting ended with the two men shaking hands but, crucially, Tevez did not accept Mancini's request for him to apologise for what had happened in the Champions League match at Bayern Munich on 27 September.
Mancini had promised that if Tevez said sorry the player would be allowed to return to first-team training, though he stopped short of suggesting he would also bring him back into consideration for a recall to the side.
Tevez said he could not apologise, re-iterating his story that he was guilty of refusing to warm up but had not declined to go on the pitch as a second-half substitute. He argued it was a simple breakdown in communications and aired grievances about losing his place in the team and no longer being the captain. Mancini, in turn, told him that the coaching staff did not think Tevez was fit or focused and blamed him for returning so late from the Copa América and missing almost all of pre-season.
Despite the sensitive and political nature of the talks, the meeting took place with Mancini serving coffee and both men showing a cordiality that represents a remarkable change of direction given the antipathy that had previously existed.
Until now, Mancini had given no indication whatsoever that he was willing even to entertain the idea of a reconciliation. On the contrary, every piece of evidence over the last fortnight has told the story of two men in bitter conflict. But the scene in Alderley Edge was of Mancini asking his former captain about his state of mind and how the last two weeks had affected him, and the conversation even veering into other general football topics and small talk.

by **Wensdi** Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:10 am

Carlos is too thick (or as crooked as Jizzbum)to accept the olive branch then.

by **shakencity** Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:14 am

Is this a wind up Bewar3?

If not, i'm presuming Mancini invited an interpreter too. Surely he'd have wanted to make sure Tevez knew what he was trying to get across Wink