Though most observers will assume it is insincere, Carlos Tevez has at least decided to offer a formal apology for his refusal to play, sorry, warm-up against Bayern Munich last September.

With the transfer window now closed there was no way Tevez could have gone elsewhere, meaning ti was a choice of limbo – with no pay – or apologise and have the chance to play for the club again.

The cynical side of me against suspects that Man City’s title challenge and the prospect of a medal also influenced Tevez’s thinking, as well as the potential of a double-your-money pay rise should they lift the title, a clause written in his the contract he had been breaching during his golfing sojourn back home in Argentina.

Plus don’t forget Tevez accused City boss Roberto Mancini of treating him ‘like a dog’ during a recent interview for Argentine TV – did he think his comments would not spread across the Atlantic?

Sincere or not, his comments reflect an about turn to his previous stance take over the past few months:

“I wish to apologise sincerely and unreservedly to everybody I have let down and to whom my actions have caused offence,” Tevez said in a statement.
“My wish is to concentrate on playing football for Manchester City Football Club,” he added.

As he has not played any competitive Live Football since the start of the autumn boss Mancini is unlikely to play him straight away. But with striker’s Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko proving inconsistent, Tevez could be the trump card that turns the title race in their favour.

Punters who bet on the Premier League have narrowed their choices down to just two teams – United and City. City currently lead the table by just two points from city rivals United, with all eyes already on their derby clash at the end of April.

Tevez has a lot of work ahead if he is to win back the support of both the club and the supporters, but given football is a fickle sport, an important goal or two will soon see all his crass misdemeanours forgotten.