Tevez says goodbye to Man United

The frustrated Argentinian has had enough of sitting on the bench at Old Trafford, writes Jason Burt in London.

Carlos Tevez has revealed that he will leave Manchester United at the end of this season and wants to join another Premier League club.

In an interview published in London's Sunday Telegraph, the 25-year-old striker talked of his sadness at leaving Old Trafford, how Alex Ferguson had never explained to him why he had not played more regularly this season, or been offered a permanent contract, how his confidence had been affected - and why he was determined to stay in England.

Tevez's adviser, Kia Joorabchian, also revealed that an offer "in excess of £40 million ($79 million)" has already been submitted by a foreign club for the Argentinian but that Tevez's "first-choice" was to remain in the Premier League, even if his fee will be lower. Joorabchian insisted that it would have cost United far less than the £32 million it had been claimed they would have to pay to sign Tevez on a permanent deal.

Tevez decided to speak out before the Manchester derby and with United on course to retain the Premier League and Champions League, because he has grown increasingly frustrated at the way he has been treated - and to refute claims that he wanted to leave England, his family was unsettled and he was asking for too much money.

"It is goodbye," he said. "I respect the fans, and it has been a great two years. Obviously, in the last year my participation on the pitch has been less but that has been the choice of the coach, not my choice. I have given everything to the shirt of Manchester, and I'm grateful to the fans. But I'm leaving, and I do so with my head held high. Manchester United will always be a part of my history.

"To say sincerely, and to be honest, I don't think I will be a Manchester United player next season. It makes me sad because I don't feel I deserve to be in the position that Manchester United have not made me an offer. My time is over, and I have to concentrate on my future, my family's future, and so I think at the end of this season I will move to another club."

Tevez was signed by Ferguson on what amounted to a two-year loan deal in August 2007, after a controversial season at West Ham United, and is hugely popular with the United supporters. Last week they chanted "sign him up" after he starred in the Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Arsenal - only then to be left out for the return fixture last Tuesday. United have not taken up the option to sign him permanently, even though it looked like they intended to do so last summer.

Because he is now in the last six months of his contract, Tevez has been free to talk to other clubs since January, but has decided to wait until the end of the season out of "respect" for United. "I don't feel wanted," said Tevez, whose availability could start a bidding war involving Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton. Joorabchian, who heads the group of investors who own the rights to sign Tevez, said: "There are also a lot of foreign clubs but since Carlos's preference is to stay here, then that is the first place we have to look.

"I think he would be a first-team player at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Everton and Aston Villa."