Tevez dropped over ‘attitude’

Argentina striker misses friendly with Portugal as punishment for missing last international match.

Carlos Tevez
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Tevez is being punished after missing a friendly against Brazil in November [GALLO/GETTY]

Argentina and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has been dropped from the national team as a punishment over his attitude, according to the president of the Argentine Football Association, Julio Grondona.

Tevez will miss Argentina’s friendly against Portugal in Geneva on Wednesday over a question of attitude, according to Grondona, after Tevez missed the previous friendly match late last year.

“I think the absence of Tevez is because of the attitude he had when he didn’t come to play for the national team against Brazil in Qatar, and then played for his Manchester City club,” Grondona said in a radio interview.

“The coaching staff did not like this attitude.”

Excuses

Tevez missed the friendly against Brazil in Qatar on November 17, which was Argentina coach Sergio Batista’s first match in charge since being confirmed in the job after three matches as caretaker.

Manchester City had stated Tevez was nursing a muscle problem.

The following weekend Tevez played for City against Fulham in the English Premier League.

When Batista named his squad on January 25 to face Portugal, he said he was resting several players including Tevez in order to look at other options. This was a surprise given that Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain was out after back surgery.

Diego Milito was included as a recognised centre forward but the Inter Milan striker withdrew this week through injury.

Source: News Agencies