Tevez’s refusal to come on as a half-time substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in September 2011 led Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, to unequivocally state the Argentine was finished with the club. His career seemed all but over when on November 7th he flew to South America in an unauthorised trip, where he remained for three months. In February, however, the striker returned to meet City chiefs to offer an apology for his behaviour. He subsequently made amends with Mancini and re-established his place in the starting line-up. He later revealed that the fall out with City almost resulted in his retiring from football.