Soccer:Carlos Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian has opened up the possibility of the controversial striker joining AC Milan after revealing he had productive talks with the Italian club's hierarchy on Thursday as part of the first tentative stages towards the player's exit from Manchester City.
It is unlikely the discussions will trigger an immediate bid, although it may push Inter Milan and Juventus into making their own interest known.
However, City are aware of developments and are relaxed about the prospect of them proceeding, whilst all the time stressing they would only be interested in a direct sale, not a loan, and then only if the price suited them.
Joorabchian realises fulfilling that requirement will not be easy, which is why even he is not going overboard about the present position, beyond acknowledging Milan, seven-times European Cup winners, fit the criteria of club Tevez would like to join.
"Milan is a great city," he told Sky Italia. "I have spoken to Tevez but we have not discussed anything for the time being. In Italy they play great football. You have great clubs. (Milan and Juventus) are top clubs. Milan are one of the top clubs in the world with a long history and there is a possibility that Carlito will go to a top club."
Beaten by Barcelona in the San Siro on Wednesday but already assured of a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Milan doubtless feel Tevez's ability could be a major asset in them trying to make the step back towards being genuine challengers for Europe's top honour once more.
Few could argue that, on the pitch, Tevez gives value for money.
He was named 'Hammer of the Year' in his only season at West Ham and then finished second top scorer at Manchester United, ahead of Wayne Rooney and behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, the following year after joining the Red Devils and helped them to the Premier League and Champions League double.
Tevez topped the scoring in each of his first two seasons at Manchester City, sharing the Premier League's Golden Boot with Dimitar Berbatov last term.
However, for the past 12 months his career has been mired in controversy amid much-publicised demands to leave City for the sake of his family.
Two transfer requests failed to result in a move away from the Etihad Stadium and Tevez has not played for the club since he refused to warm-up during the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in September, which resulted in him being fined two weeks wages.
Then, just when it seemed peace between player and club had broken out, Tevez jetted back to Argentina without the permission of manager Roberto Mancini, where he remains, despite reports to the contrary.
There have been discussions between City and Tevez's advisors about the player returning, although the precise details have not been made public and neither party seems to be treating the matter with a high degree of urgency.
And Mancini evidently believes he has spent far too much time discussing the 27-year-old as he dismissed the subject ahead of Sunday's trip to Liverpool.
"I do not want to speak about Carlos Tevez. I will answer no questions about him," Mancini said.
