Brazilian outfit Corinthians insist they have not yet struck a deal to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.

Speaking in Vancouver yesterday, City boss Roberto Mancini claimed an agreement had been reached between the two clubs and only personal terms had still to be thrashed out with the Argentina striker.

However, Corinthians later released a statement on their own website insisting this is not the case and City have attempted to make changes to their initial agreement.

“Regarding the news published during the early hours of today stating an agreement between Corinthians and striker Carlos Tevez, the (club) president Andres Sanchez would like to clarify to the public that Manchester City did not accept the Corinthians offer for the player,” read the statement.

“The truth is that the club sent Corinthians a counter-proposal in the early hours, that due to the time difference only was noticed by the Alvinegra (white and blacks) management this morning.

“In the counter-proposal, the English club have asked for changes in the form of payment and on the value of the transfer.

“In addition, Manchester City has also insisted that Tevez would have to give up a pending amount with the English club.

“Lastly, president Andres Sanchez informs that for the time being there does not exist anything concrete for Tevez and the counter-proposal will be analysed by him and by his management.”

In all likelihood, it is just a matter of time before Tevez heads back to the Brazilian club, whom he left for West Ham in 2006, triggering what has been an eventful and controversial five-year stay in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old has made no secret of his desire to leave Manchester and move somewhere more accessible to his wife Vanesa and two young daughters.

His exit will leave a massive hole, however, recently-retired midfielder Patrick Vieira is convinced the club can quickly move on. Vieira said: “It is never easy to lose players like Carlos Tevez.

“In the last two years he has been fantastic, scoring goals.

“The club has grown that fast and Carlos has made a huge contribution to it, like all the players.

“But in football, it is not the first time a big club has lost a big player. I believe we can still achieve our targets and will still have a really competitive team.

“The players will take more responsibilities on their shoulders and that will make them better players. Life goes on.”

Tevez, after beginning his career at Boca Juniors, played for Corinthians from 2005-06 before joining West Ham and then Manchester United.

The search for Tevez's replacement at the Etihad Stadium will intensify with City heavily linked with another Argentinian, Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid.

Aguero, who like Tevez was part of the Argentina squad knocked out of the Copa America at the weekend, has also been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus.

The 23-year-old is in demand after announcing that he wants to leave Atletico after five years at the club. His representative, Hernan Reguera, expects the striker's future to be decided “in seven days”.

“He wanted to finish the Copa America to sit down and talk,” said Reguera.