London - Manchester City have agreed a deal to sell their Argentinian star Carlos Tevez to Brazilian side Corinthians, the English Premier League club's manager Roberto Mancini said on Monday.
"At the moment we have an agreement with Corinthians, but Carlos now is still a City player," Mancini told Sky TV.
According to reports the deal will be closed when personal terms between the 27-year-old Tevez and his new club are agreed.
The Brazilian side had offered 40 million euros for the striker but City had been holding out for more for their captain and Corinthians have reportedly made an improved offer.
The striker wants to leave Manchester as his daughters live in South America with their mother. The Argentina forward, formerly with West Ham and Manchester United, led City to FA Cup glory and Champions League qualification last season.
Tevez, who missed the crucial penalty kick as Argentina went out of the Copa America quarter-final 5-4 on penalties against Uruguay on Saturday, arrived in English football at West Ham from Corinthians in August 2006.
Selling Tevez to Corinthians would enable City to offload him to a club with whom they are not in direct competition, either domestically or in Europe, while also boosting the player's family arrangements with his estranged partner living in Buenos Aires.
Tevez said Monday that "I would have no problem to go back to Corinthians", where he won the 2005 league title and became a great crowd favourite.
City defender Joleon Lescott admitted he would be disappointed to see his team-mate depart but understood his wishes.
The England international told Sky Sports News: "We'll be disappointed if Carlos leaves but it was down to the club and Carlos what was best for each other and they have come to an agreement so I wish both parties all the best.
"Carlos is his own man. Last season he played to 110 percent every game so none of us will be holding any grudges towards him and we'll wish him all the best if he does leave."
If Tevez does leave City they are expected to bid for compatriot Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, who is currently keeping him on the Argentine bench.
Aguero, Diego Maradona's son-in-law, has a release clause of 50 million euros at Atletico so financially, the transaction would be as good as neutral for City as the Sao Paulo bonuses offer puts a few more million on the table.
Aguero's agent Hernan Reguera admitted that the striker's future will soon be resolved now that Argentina are no longer in the Copa America.
"He wanted the Copa America to end to sit down and talk. During this week everything will be settled," Reguera told Ole.
Reguera insisted that Aguero's decision to leave Atletico had nothing to do with money and that he wants a new challenge.
"In seven days the subject will be closed, but this has nothing to do with money. He wants his career to grow."