City consider lawsuit that could cost Tevez £25million

Carlos Tevez’s dispute with Manchester City could end up costing him more than £25million.

Tevez enraged City bosses this week when he accepted his fine for refusing to warm-up against Bayern Munich - but then immediately ignored club orders by flying home to Argentina.

Now manager Roberto Mancini is set to offload the controversial striker in the January transfer window.

And if City are forced to slash the price on Tevez in order to get rid of him, they could be in a position to sue Tevez for the difference between his sale price and his market value during the summer window.

Tevez’s dispute with City has already cost him £7million but his decision to return to Argentina without permission from his employers puts him in danger of breach of contract through gross misconduct, and if proved, that would pave the way for City to take legal action.

In simple legal terms, City stand to lose out on a considerable transfer fee because Tevez damaged his image by refusing to warm up during in Munich, and then - if proved - by going AWOL from training he was ordered to take part in this week to regain his fitness levels.

The Manchester outfit have repeatedly said they consider £40m a market price for the player, but there is absolutely no chance any other club in the world will now pay such a figure.

If Tevez is sold in the January transfer window for say, £20million, then if City can prove gross misconduct, they could be given leave by FIFA to sue for the £20million shortfall.

There is a growing feeling around Eastlands that Tevez is now attempting to provoke City into selling him for a cut price fee, with his actions.

After accepting a fine of £400,000 for refusing to warm up in Munich, it was thought, not least by the PFA, a reconciliation would be possible between the two parties.

But despite being expressly told by City’s acting chief executive John MacBeath he did not have permission to leave training to return home, Tevez chose to fly home to Argentina, amid much publicity.

Tevez has already been fined £400,000 and been ordered to train with the youth team for his misdemeanour in Munich. Now, if found guilty of gross misconduct, he could be fined anything up to six weeks’ wages, which would amount to £1.2million.

On top of that, he has already forfeited more than £6million in ‘loyalty’ payments over the course of his current contract, after asking for a transfer at the end of last season.

City have given Tevez until this evening to explain his disappearence from training, and ordered him to return to Manchester by Monday. After that, they will take legal advice, and hold another enquiry into his behaviour.

If it is found his acted in breach of contract, then it could pave the way for City to suspend him, and not pay him again until January, when he could be sold for a cut price fee, with the intention of sueing for the return of any shortfall.