Champions League near miss behind Tevez saga says adviser

LONDON (Reuters) -- Manchester City's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season after coming fifth is a major reason for Carlos Tevez handing in a transfer request, according to his adviser Kia Joorabchian.

The 26-year-old Argentine striker's request was rejected by City on Sunday and he then issued a statement saying that his relationship with some of the club's executives was "beyond repair".

"There was a reason why he signed for the club. He saw the vision of the owner. He decided he would sign for the club, play one year outside the Champions League and, hopefully, take this club into the next phase," Joorabchian told the Daily Telegraph.

"When he joined City, he made a commitment that this was what he wanted to do. At the end of last season, after all the turmoil, Carlos was bitterly disappointed because they did not qualify for the Champions League.

"He felt the situation at the club was not going in the same direction as he imagined. In the summer he wanted to leave."

Joorabchian denied that Tevez had been angling for a new contract during meetings with the club's board in September, suggesting he was unhappy about the club's transfer policy.

"Through September Carlos again began to get disillusioned," Joorabchian said. "His view was that they had agreed and promises were made to him and now the transfer window was closed these issues were not being resolved."

Tevez, who joined City from Manchester United in 2009, has been training with the squad this week as they prepare for Thursday's Europa League clash with Juventus in Turin.

Joorabchian said Tevez, who has scored 33 goals in 50 league appearances for City and is the highest-paid player at the club, remained committed to playing for the club despite the fall-out from his transfer request.

"He will play if picked and 100 percent do his best," he said. "He feels that it's important every time he puts on the shirt. He always gives 100 percent."

Joorabchian offered some hope that the situation could be resolved. "Right now Carlos has made his point clearly that he has issues," Joorabchian said. "The club and Carlos will have to try and find an amicable solution. Everybody is being hurt by this right now."