(REUTERS) – Carlos Tevez is missing Argentina’s friendly against Portugal over a question of attitude, according to his FA’s president Julio Grondona, as a club-v-country row with Manchester City rumbles on. “I think Tevez’s absence is because of an attitude he had when he didn’t come to play (against Brazil in November) and then did so for his club. The coaching staff didn’t like that attitude,” Grondona said of the Manchester City striker.
Speaking to Radio Pop, Grondona added that Tevez’s omission had nothing to do with him voicing his support for Diego Maradona when the former coach was not retained by Grondona after last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Tevez missed the friendly against Brazil in Qatar on November 17 – Argentina coach Sergio Batista’s first match in charge since being confirmed in the job after three matches as caretaker – with City saying he was nursing a muscle problem.
The following weekend, Tevez played for City against Fulham in the Premier League.
City had previously complained that Tevez was being called up for too many games in far away places, leading to their star player becoming fatigued and mentally jaded.
“The tiredness is a problem for Carlos. Argentina do not just play in Europe, so it is very difficult, “City boss Roberto Mancini said before the Brazil game.
“Carlos didn’t work from the start of the season. He arrived here in August. After three days he went away with the national team. But he still needed to recover after the World Cup.”
When Batista named his squad on January 25 to face Portugal, he said he was resting several players including Tevez in order to look at other options. This was a surprise given that Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain was out after back surgery.
Diego Milito was included as a recognised centre forward but the Inter Milan striker withdrew this week through injury, which means Lionel Messi will be flanked by Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria.