Although Mancini did not mention Kia Joorabchian by name, it did not take much to believe Carlos Tevez's long-time advisor was the subject of his ire.

After all, City have been trying, without success, to get Tevez back from Argentina for nearly three months now.

And on Friday, Joorabchian claimed Tevez had always had a problem with Mancini, even though the Italian's own experiences do not bear that out.

"Sometimes it is difficult to understand why some players have certain agents," said Mancini.

"If I was a player I would never take an agent like some who work here.

"First the agent should find the player work, after that they should help players in difficult situations; help them, not put them against the club or the manager or the other players.

"Agents are important for doing this, not only for earning lots of money."

In the wake of Joorabchian's comments on Friday, City were quick to point out previous statements that claimed Tevez was thankful of his manager, especially in December 2010 when he lodged the first of his transfer requests, when then chief executive Garry Cook was the subject of the player's ire.

And whilst Mancini's emotional reaction in the immediate aftermath of that fateful Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in September, when Tevez did not warm-up as demanded, set manager and player on a collision course, the pair did meet shortly afterwards to try and iron out their differences.

"I don't know why they are suggesting this," said Mancini, of the image that is being portrayed about his relationship with Tevez.

"I have always had a good relationship with him.

"After Munich, I called him to my house and told him if he apologised he could come back. For me, it is no problem.

"I had always good behaviour from him.

"I don't know what the problem is. He has always said that he wants to leave Manchester, that he wants to be close to his family. I have helped him with this, last year and this year.

"It is very strange."

Clearly though, should tomorrow's transfer deadline pass and Tevez remain a City player, Mancini has a problem to deal with.

It is not something the former Inter Milan boss wished to discuss ahead of the Premier League leaders' trip to Everton.

Part of him may also wish the cryptic comments of AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani are the prelude to a last-day bid that meets City's £25million demands.

However, with Inter Milan and Paris St-Germain out of the running for this transfer window at least, super-rich Russians Anzhi Makhachkala not under consideration despite claims of interest, and Tevez's former club West Ham rating their chances of luring the South American to Upton Park on loan as so slim it is barely worth discussing, it looks like he will be staying at City.

Even a reports of a very tentative inquiry from Liverpool about a potential swap deal involving Andy Carroll have been rejected.

"I never heard this and I never spoke with (director of football development) Brian Marwood about it," said Mancini.

"Carroll is a good player. He is young. He is strong. But at the moment? No. We don't have any chance to talk about this with Liverpool."

At the start of the month, Mancini expressed hope that Tevez and fellow outcasts Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha would find an alternative place to ply their trade.

However, of that trio, only Onuoha has moved on, to QPR.

"It is impossible to be at one club and not play any games," said Mancini.

"It was important for Nedum and Bridge. They are good guys.

"Carlos was a different situation.

"We have been waiting for him for two months. Now it is important that he finds a good solution.

"He is a top player. He can't stay one year without playing. He is a top player. It is important that he starts to play."